Haven met aangemeerde zeil en stoomschepen 1903

This photograph of a harbor with moored sailing and steam ships was made by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. The limited colour palette really emphasizes the process of image making: it’s about the tonal range and the contrasts in light and dark, and not about the vibrancy of colour. I love how the surface of the water is subtly rendered with soft, muted tones, suggesting both calmness and depth. The mist in the background gives a sense of mystery, making the city feel distant and almost dreamlike. Look at the individual masts and rigging of the ships which create a complex network of lines against the soft sky, a kind of abstract drawing in its own right. The way Kessler captures the light reflecting off the water reminds me of some of the impressionist painters, especially Monet. This image speaks to the power of photography to capture fleeting moments and to transform the everyday into something beautiful and evocative. Art is just an ongoing conversation, isn't it?