Haven met aangemeerde zeil en stoomschepen 1903

This small photo of a harbor with moored sailing and steam ships was made by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. Look at the overall grey, hazy appearance. Can you feel the dampness in the air? What was it like to stand on the banks of the canal? The texture of the water gives the impression of constant movement, as if the reflections of the ships are dancing on the surface. The soft, diffused light evokes a sense of tranquility and stillness, but also of melancholy. I can imagine Kessler standing with his camera, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to capture this scene. He wants to express the industrialization of his country through its waterways, but he is also thinking of artists like Whistler and Turner who painted very similar scenes! Artists are always talking to one another.