Jo van Raab van Cantstein en Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong op de heide, Hilversum 1933

This small, monochrome photograph captures Jo van Raab van Cantstein and Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong on the heide, Hilversum, and was made by an anonymous artist. The composition is simple, almost snapshot-like, which gives it a certain charm. The varying shades of gray, from the deep blacks of the trees to the lighter grays of the sky, create a rich tonal range. Look at the way the light falls on the golf bag, a ghostly white against the darker wood of the bench. The texture is smooth, yet you can sense the graininess of the photographic paper, reminding us of the object’s physicality. The way the women are positioned, side by side yet slightly apart, hints at a certain formality. The trees in the background offer a sense of depth, while the golf course adds a touch of narrative. This image reminds me of the work of Eugène Atget, who captured the everyday beauty of Paris with a similar eye for detail. Art is a continuous conversation, and this little photograph speaks volumes.