Zeven sloepen 1953

These two gelatin silver prints, “Zeven sloepen,” show a group of boats and were produced by an anonymous photographer, likely in the early 20th century. The subtle tonality and soft focus gives the photograph a dreamlike quality. The grainy texture, enhanced by the sepia tone, pulls you into the scene. It’s as if the photographer was trying to capture not just the image of the boats, but also the sensation of being near the water, the hazy atmosphere, the quiet murmur of the harbor. In the upper image, the reflection of light on the water is particularly striking, a shimmering surface that vibrates with energy. This area, blurred yet full of life, encapsulates the piece's tension between clarity and abstraction, presence and memory. It reminds me a little of Gerhard Richter’s blurred photos, an interest in how images can both reveal and obscure, inviting us to question what we think we see. Ultimately, art is about asking questions rather than providing answers.