Prins Hendrikdok, Middelburg, met op de achtergrond de Abdijtoren 1865 - 1870

Editor: So, this is a photograph called "Prins Hendrikdok, Middelburg, met op de achtergrond de Abdijtoren" taken between 1865 and 1870 by Pieter Oosterhuis. It’s a gelatin silver print and the image has this wonderfully serene and still quality about it. What strikes you most when you look at this piece? Curator: Oh, the quiet hum of a port town holding its breath, wouldn't you say? It feels like stepping into a sepia-toned dream. I'm immediately drawn to how Oosterhuis captured the light. It's almost painterly. Do you notice how it softens the architecture and gives a gentle texture to the water? Makes me wonder what sounds, smells, what kind of air, did this particular moment breathe? Editor: Yes, definitely a soft, dreamy atmosphere! I can almost feel the cool air coming off the water. It's also interesting to see a photo being labelled "realism". Is that really the best stylistic classification here? Curator: Interesting question, actually! In the purest sense, photography *is* realism. Yet, Oosterhuis clearly chose his angle, his moment, his exposure. Doesn't that make him something of an interpreter, even a storyteller, rather than just a recorder? The stillness is so carefully constructed, wouldn’t you say? Editor: I think so, yeah. Thinking about it now, the stillness really adds a poetic quality... and definitely speaks to his skill! Curator: Exactly! This little gelatin-silver dreamscape invites us to imagine a larger narrative, wouldn't you agree? Almost makes you want to walk right into the picture, breathe in that air. I love how art, even in its "realistic" forms, always leaves space for dreams! Editor: I agree. It's definitely got me looking at photography in a whole new light. It feels way more interpretative than I initially thought. Thanks for your help.