Gezicht op het Singel in Amsterdam 1904

This photograph, "Gezicht op het Singel in Amsterdam," was taken by James Higson sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It presents a world of sepia tones, a world of browns and greys where only a few elements really stand out. The thing that really grabs me is how Higson captures the surface of the water. It’s not just a flat plane; you can almost feel the subtle ripples and movement. It makes you think about the physical properties of water, how it reflects light and distorts the world above it. And look at the buildings lining the canal. They have this wonderful sense of solidity. The architectural details are soft, almost dissolving into the light, but you get a clear sense of their presence and mass. It reminds me of how much art is about the interplay between form and formlessness, substance and shadow. Higson's photo reminds me of Eugène Atget. They both found poetry in the everyday, a certain kind of melancholy beauty in the things that most people overlook.