Binnenplaats van boerderij Herrenhof te Wittem 1890 - 1920

This small, old photograph shows us the Binnenplaats van boerderij Herrenhof te Wittem, probably taken with some kind of early camera by an anonymous photographer. I imagine the photographer carefully composing the shot, maybe feeling a sense of awe at the simple beauty of this everyday scene. There’s the rough texture of the cobbled courtyard, the plain white walls, and the way the light gently illuminates the scene. You can see the quiet, lived-in feel of the place, maybe the photographer was thinking about its history. It reminds me of the work of other photographers who documented architecture, like Eugène Atget. Each of them, in their own way, trying to freeze a moment in time, to capture the fleeting beauty of the world around them. It also makes me think of Agnes Martin, not because of the style, but because she shows us that quiet contemplation of the everyday. The photographer has had a real impact on my painting. They inspire me to slow down, look closely, and appreciate the subtle poetry of the world.