Huis van de machinist 1900 - 1922

Robert Julius Boers made this small stereograph, “Huis van de machinist”, probably with a simple camera and a lot of patience. It’s a double image, designed to trick your eyes into seeing depth. I imagine Boers setting up his camera amidst the trees and the shadows, trying to capture the essence of this tropical scene. What was he thinking as he framed the house of the machinist, a scene of daily life amidst exotic surroundings? Look at the tones, the way the light filters through the leaves. The subtle variations and gentle gradations create a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. This little scene reminds me of other painters who were drawn to the quiet, everyday moments, like Vilhelm Hammershøi, but with palm trees. The whole history of painting is in conversation, artists looking, borrowing, and riffing off each other across time. It’s like we’re all speaking the same visual language, even if our accents are different. Painting isn’t about answers, it’s about keeping the conversation going, embracing the questions and uncertainties.