Schepen in de haven van Zaandam 1904

James Higson captured these ships in Zaandam's harbor with a camera, at a time we don't know. It’s so cool to see how the brown tones create a sense of nostalgia and stillness. I can imagine the artist carefully composing this shot, looking for that perfect balance between the boats, masts and water. There’s a gentle dance between light and shadow, like when you’re mixing paint and trying to get just the right hue. The reflections on the water are gorgeous and a bit murky, adding depth and mystery. I wonder what Higson was thinking as he framed this scene? Was he drawn to the shapes of the boats, their history, or the way they interacted with the water? It makes you think about artists like, say, Gerhard Richter, who also played with photography and blurring to evoke memory and emotion. Ultimately, this photograph invites us to slow down, contemplate, and connect with the past. It reminds us that art is a conversation across time, each artist building on the work of those who came before.