Interieur van een sigarenwinkel c. 1925

Joh. Geijtenbeek captured this interior of a cigar shop, and it feels like walking into a moment frozen in time. You can almost smell the rich aroma of tobacco mixing with the cool air. I wonder what it was like for Geijtenbeek to set up this scene, the soft light creating a muted palette across the shop, and the composition drawing you in. The gentleman stands there, a bit unsure, while the shopkeeper is busy behind the counter, counting money. You wonder if the photo's about a simple transaction, or something more. It reminds me that art, like life, is often about these small, quiet moments. And sometimes, it's in the details – the way the light catches on the jars behind the customer, or the way the hats frame the face of each man – that we find the most meaning.