Houtzaagmolen in Edam, Nederland 1904

This is a small photograph by James Higson, showing the Houtzaagmolen, or sawmill, in Edam, Netherlands. Look at the stillness of this image. The water is so calm, reflecting the buildings and the sky, making the world appear upside down, doubled, almost symmetrical. I feel a sense of being suspended between these two worlds – the solid structures above and the watery reflections below. Higson must have been captivated by the light, trying to capture it on paper. I imagine him setting up his camera, waiting for the right moment, the perfect conditions. It makes me think about my process, waiting for the right moment to make a mark on the canvas. In this way, we are both simply feeling our way through it. We all are. It’s a gentle reminder that art-making is about seeing, feeling, and being present, whether it’s through the lens of a camera or the stroke of a brush. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, inspiring one another across time.