Schepen aan een kade in Zaandam 1904

James Higson made this sepia photograph of boats at a quay in Zaandam sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, we don’t know exactly when. What's fascinating here is how a single color, that warm brown, can create such a rich sense of depth. It's a reminder that art isn't just about color; it's about the relationships between tones. Look how Higson uses light and shadow to define the shapes of the boats and the buildings behind them. The reflections in the water add another layer, almost doubling the scene and creating a kind of visual echo. There's a beautiful blurriness to the water, contrasting with the sharper details of the boats themselves. This contrast is crucial; it gives the image a sense of movement and life, even though it's a still photograph. This piece reminds me a bit of the early landscapes by Gerhard Richter, who also played with blurriness and focus to create a sense of atmosphere and memory. It’s all about how artists find ways to capture a feeling, a moment in time, rather than just a literal representation of a scene.