Portret van een vriend van Dolph Kessler onder Gainsborough Bridge c. 1903 - 1904

This is a photograph of a friend of Dolph Kessler under Gainsborough Bridge by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. It’s all in black and white, which immediately transports you back in time, but the clarity and detail are kind of amazing, like a memory crystalized. The friend is leaning casually against a wooden railing, looking directly at the camera, and you can almost feel the cool, damp air coming off the water. I’m drawn to the texture of the stone bridge looming behind him. You can see every block, every little imperfection, and the way the light catches the arch is just gorgeous. The photograph feels really solid, like you could reach out and touch the rough surface of the stone, or hear the splash of the water. I'm reminded a bit of Walker Evans, in the way he captured the everyday with such dignity and precision. It’s a reminder that art isn't just about grand gestures, it's about finding beauty in the ordinary, and freezing a moment in time for us to contemplate.