Zeegezicht before 1902

This photograph, Zeegezicht, is by F.H. Wasley. It's a small picture, about 11 by 15 centimetres. It captures the sea in a wash of grey tones. It’s like a study in movement, a fleeting moment made solid. Look at how the light plays across the water’s surface. Each wave is a brushstroke, isn't it? You can almost feel the spray. The horizon line is soft, almost blurred, which gives the sense of depth that I find really beautiful. The waves are alive, their peaks tipped with foam. The tones of grey are so subtle, they're doing so much work in this tiny composition. Wasley's work makes me think of Hiroshi Sugimoto, another artist who explores the sea. But unlike Sugimoto's meditative, almost static images, Wasley captures the sea’s energy and chaos. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation, but about capturing a feeling, an idea. It's about the process of seeing, of translating the world onto a surface.