Gezicht op Ville Nouvelle te Fez Possibly 1927

A.G.A. van Eelde made this photograph, “Gezicht op Ville Nouvelle te Fez,” which roughly translates to "View of the New City in Fez." Looking at this gelatin silver print, I can imagine the artist behind the camera, trying to capture the essence of a place, its dusty roads and modest buildings. This image, mounted on cardboard, must have felt precious to the artist, a little portal to another time. The photograph's composition, the muted tones, and the quiet activity of the city evoke a sense of stillness. I wonder, was Van Eelde thinking about the play of light and shadow? Or were they more interested in the texture of the buildings and landscape? Maybe the photograph captures a transient moment of everyday life, a donkey casually crossing the road, people gathered in small groups, hinting at a whole world of stories unfolding beyond the frame. It reminds me how much you can say with so little, and the ongoing dance between presence and absence in art making.