Lossen van de Soerabaja c. 1900 - 1922

Robert Julius Boers made this small stereoscopic photograph titled Lossen van de Soerabaja, but when it was made, I'm not sure. The sepia tones give it a softness, blurring the distinction between water, sky, and ship and creating an almost dreamlike quality. Looking at the surface, you can see that it’s not just about capturing an image; it's about the physicality of the process. The emulsion of the print feels thin and delicate, and in the lower part of the image you can almost feel the texture of the water. The repetition, with the two images side-by-side, is like a visual echo, amplifying the scene and making it seem both familiar and strange. I am reminded of Hiroshi Sugimoto's seascapes, which have a similar serene yet powerful presence. Boers, like Sugimoto, invites us to contemplate the vastness of the sea and our place within it. Art is an ongoing conversation, and this image speaks to the enduring fascination with the sea and our relationship to it.