Petite Trouville 1900 - 1922

This stereograph called Petite Trouville was made by Robert Julius Boers, but the date is unknown. What is compelling here is the tonal range of the work. It’s almost monochromatic, like a pencil drawing, or an old film still. The color is what generates the image; it’s what gives it life. There are two panels, side by side, each depicting what looks like a beach or lakeshore with small buildings or shacks. The tone of the image is mostly sepia or brownish-yellow, which creates a warm and aged atmosphere. It's pretty subtle, with soft gradients defining the shapes and surfaces. This subtlety speaks to art as a conversation, a quiet dialogue, not a shout. This piece reminds me a little of Gerhard Richter’s blurry photos – they’re not about capturing a clear image, but about evoking a mood, a memory. It embraces ambiguity. Like Richter, Boers seems more interested in the feel of the place. It suggests that art, at its best, is not about fixed meanings but about opening up spaces for feeling and thought.