Zeilschepen Maida, Yvonne en Encore te water met op de achtergrond een heuvelachtig landschap c. 1880 - 1900

Editor: This gelatin silver print, taken sometime between 1880 and 1900 by James Adamson, is titled "Zeilschepen Maida, Yvonne en Encore te water met op de achtergrond een heuvelachtig landschap" – quite a mouthful! The image of the sailboats feels very serene. What underlying narratives or symbolic meanings do you see in this artwork? Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the evocation of journey. Sailboats have long been associated with exploration, trade, and even escape. The hazy, almost dreamlike quality given by the gelatin-silver print suggests a memory or a longing for a past era when sailing was perhaps more prominent. How do the three boats, the 'Maida, Yvonne en Encore,' strike you? Do you see their names as adding to the symbolism? Editor: I hadn't considered the names themselves. It's intriguing that there are three boats, maybe each represents a facet of human ambition or aspiration? 'Encore' particularly suggests a desire for repetition, for more of something. Is it reading too much into it? Curator: Not at all. The grouping in threes often carries symbolic weight – think of past, present, future, or mind, body, and spirit. In this photograph, these three vessels, together on the water, might subtly evoke ideas of continuity, a striving beyond the present moment. Note how they move in the same direction, westward towards some future unknown point beyond the visible edge. This symbolizes, on an unconscious level, progression through time and purpose. How does this awareness influence your interpretation? Editor: It shifts my perspective entirely. Before, I saw a beautiful scene, but now I see layers of intention and meaning pointing towards themes of human resilience, hope, and ambition that go beyond a snapshot of a place and time. Thank you. Curator: Precisely. Recognizing these layers gives depth to what at first glance appears simple and peaceful. The symbology invites prolonged contemplation and reveals a great depth in the photograph’s emotional impact.