Kar getrokken door twee paarden bij twee vissersschepen aan de kust bij Scheveningen 1904

James Higson made this photograph of a cart pulled by two horses near two fishing boats off the coast of Scheveningen. It’s a hazy, dreamlike scene, bleached almost of color. The image feels subdued, faded like an old memory. Look closely at the grainy texture, like sand clinging to the surface. The limited tonal range – a symphony of grays and creams – evokes a feeling of stillness and quiet contemplation, like the world is holding its breath. Notice the figures on the boats, they’re captured in a moment of labor, activity frozen in time. The photograph feels like an ongoing exchange, a silent conversation between the artist, the subject, and the viewer, one where the true meaning remains elusive. It brings to mind the seascapes of Hendrik Mesdag; they both capture a certain mood, a melancholic beauty of the Dutch coast. Art is just one big conversation.