Tinmijn 1900 - 1922

This is Robert Julius Boers’ ‘Tinmijn’, a stereo card photograph, which lives at the Rijksmuseum. Look how the sepia tones create an entire world. The way the image is constructed, you are transported to a landscape that feels both familiar and remote. The material quality of this photograph fascinates me. It’s not just about what’s depicted, but also how the tones and details emerge from the surface. The slight blurring lends a sense of immediacy to the scene, as if Boers captured this moment spontaneously. The stark tonal contrasts capture the sun and shadow, emphasizing the texture of the earth and the workers’ labor. Consider the figure in the foreground, the way they stand firmly on the earth, and how this seemingly small detail anchors the entire image, transforming it into something larger. The photograph is not just a visual document but an experience. It’s like a whisper from the past. It reminds me of the work of photographers like Gustave Le Gray, who was able to convey the atmosphere of a time and place.