Vrienden van Loentje Onnen, linksboven Loentje met een onbekende jongen in een zeilboot 1911 - 1912

Loentje Onnen made this photo album page of snapshots of her friends, but when I look at it, it feels like more than just pictures, it's like a collection of small, paused moments. These old photos are sepia toned and stuck to the album page, which reminds me of working on a collage. It's like a sketch, a process of sticking and layering memories. The top left image of the sailboat looks like a blurry dream, and you can almost feel the gentle rocking of the boat and the sun on your skin. The water and sails are a dance of light and shadow. The whole photograph is a record of a lived experience, of friendship and leisure. I am reminded of how Gerhard Richter used photography as source material, blurring the edges and turning snapshots into paintings. Both artists use their chosen medium to engage with and capture the essence of a particular time.