Boten in haven 1900 - 1922

Robert Julius Boers made this photograph, "Boten in haven," without specifying a date, and yet it feels like time is of the essence. The sepia tone gives it an aged feeling. It's like we're looking at a memory, something that’s already been processed through time. What strikes me is the sense of light. It's not just a visual record; it's about capturing the way light hits the water, the boats, and the figures. It's all about the subtleties of tone, creating depth and atmosphere. There’s something deeply affecting about the way the reflection of the boats in the water seems to dematerialize. It’s a clever, almost melancholic effect. Boers reminds me a little of early Stieglitz, both interested in photography as a means of expression as much as representation. This isn't just about boats in a harbor. It's about seeing, feeling, and the transient nature of light and life.