Het gezelschap gaat aan boord per loopplank c. 1903 - 1908

This photograph, Het gezelschap gaat aan boord per loopplank, was taken by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. It's a small picture, just like a quick glance, capturing a moment in time. Looking at this image, I can almost feel the damp air and hear the gentle lapping of water against the dock. The people embarking seem suspended between land and water, their journey just beginning. You can feel the texture of the wooden planks, worn smooth by countless feet, and the way the light reflects off the water, creating shimmering patterns. The composition is simple yet evocative, drawing you into the scene and making you wonder about the stories of these travelers. I wonder, what was Kessler thinking as he snapped this shot? Did he realize he was preserving a slice of life that would resonate with viewers decades later? Perhaps he was simply documenting the everyday, finding beauty in the mundane. It reminds me of other photographers like Eugène Atget, who captured the streets of Paris with a similar sense of quiet observation. Photography, like painting, is all about seeing and making.