Gezicht op de Oude Schans en Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam 1920 - 1940

This photogravure of the Oude Schans and Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam was made by an anonymous artist, and it’s a fantastic example of how process can shape what we see. There’s a certain fuzziness to the image, a softness that almost feels like a memory. The sepia tones create a sense of nostalgia, and everything seems to blend together, like watercolor bleeding on wet paper. Look closely at the rooftops, how they seem to ripple across the frame, one after another. There's a real sense of density, of lives lived closely together, and an acknowledgement of the way buildings shape our perception of space. It reminds me a little of the work of Atget, another artist who documented the changing face of urban life. Both artists seem interested in capturing something fleeting, something that might disappear at any moment. Ultimately, this image is about seeing the world, not as a fixed reality, but as an ongoing, ever-changing process.