Johannes van Zijll de Jong rokend aan theetafel in tuin 1930 - 1935

This small, anonymous photograph shows Johannes van Zijll de Jong smoking at a tea table in a garden. I imagine the photographer wanting to capture a peaceful moment, the light, and the way the smoke curls in the air. I empathize with that desire. It’s like trying to catch an idea, something ephemeral, and pin it down. Look at the way the table is set with cups and saucers. Is it staged? Was there actually tea? Maybe the whole thing, like a painting, is a construction, a way of seeing, or wanting to see the world. Think about the soft greys and the quietness of the scene. The textures of the garden are almost palpable. I see him thinking, maybe dreaming, with the cigarette as a prop. It's a conversation, just like the conversations between artists across time. One small gesture—a cup, a cigarette—can communicate so much. These little moments of observation become an invitation. What do you see when you look?