Zeilschip voor de kust van Nederlands-Indië c. 1920 - 1930

Klaas Kleiterp made this photograph of a sailboat off the coast of the Dutch East Indies; the exact date is unknown. The whole scene has this uncanny, sepia wash over it, and the indistinct forms make me think about the way that memories fade and blur over time. I’m drawn to the water, its surface looking almost like brushed velvet with those horizontal lines. It’s hard to tell what kind of camera Kleiterp used, but you can tell it was a completely different technology, with a particular feel. It’s also kind of amazing how much information is packed into such a small image. I find my eyes darting around all over trying to make sense of the scene. This photo makes me think about Gerhard Richter’s blurry photos which also explore the idea of representation and memory. It makes me consider how much a work of art is connected to its tools and processes of its making.