Under the Pines c. 20th century

Will A. Cadby made this photograph called 'Under the Pines' at an unknown date. The tones are gentle, like a charcoal drawing, with a limited range of grays that makes you want to step closer, right? I love the surface; it’s got this dreamy texture like a memory fading in and out. Look closely at the tree on the right, it almost seems to shimmer, doesn't it? The way the light catches the bark pulls you in. It reminds me a bit of the early landscapes by Gerhard Richter, these blurred, almost out-of-focus scenes. Both artists seem to be exploring how we see and remember a place, not just what's there, but how it feels. Art is a conversation, right? Cadby might be whispering to Richter across time, inviting us to lose ourselves in the quiet of the woods. It's up to us to listen.