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, but when exactly, who knows? I love imagining the feeling of being there, the sun bleaching out the colors, the air thick with humidity. The sail straining against the wind, a dark triangle against the hazy sky. I wonder what Kleiterp was thinking as he framed this shot. Was he trying to capture the vastness of the ocean or the smallness of human endeavors against it? The textures are subtle – the grainy surface of the water, the rough-hewn wood of the boat, the worn fabric of the sail. It’s not about sharp details; it's more about the overall mood. It reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter's seascapes, but with a more direct, documentary feel. It's like Kleiterp is saying, "Here, look at this moment. It is fleeting, but real." And maybe that’s what all artists are trying to do, capture a little piece of reality and share it with the world.