Spelen in zee in Zandvoort 1900 - 1905

Knackstedt & Näther made this silvery photograph of children playing in the sea in Zandvoort with light, water, and gelatin silver. I can imagine the artist, or artists, here patiently waiting, trying to coax the scene to life. What they want to do is capture a feeling, a mood. There is a tenderness to this, the stillness of a moment captured. It's not hyper-real, it’s dream-like. It’s all in the tones, the light, how the silvery grays make you feel. The scene is infused with that in-between mood you get at the beach, with the feeling of lightheadedness, and sun-drenched skin, the coolness of the water. The children stand, like sculptures, as if they’re not quite sure if they want to go deeper. As artists, we’re always in conversation, trying to capture something, or some feeling, we can share with others. We are playing in the medium, just like the children in the sea.