Aelbrechtskolk in Delfshaven 1940s

This photograph, titled Aelbrechtskolk in Delfshaven, captures a waterside scene, but who made it and when remains a mystery. What strikes me most is how the photographer has built a composition that feels so immediate and yet so still. The tones range from warm browns to cool grays, creating a muted, almost dreamlike atmosphere, which feels very contemporary. The buildings, densely packed, lean a little, as though the whole scene might at any moment tilt and slide into the water. I keep coming back to the reflections on the water, they dissolve the solid forms of the boats and buildings into something more ephemeral and transient. It’s a reminder that nothing stays still, that everything is in flux. In some ways it recalls those late Turner paintings where everything is bathed in light and atmosphere, and solid forms begin to dissolve. I love the way that art can capture a moment and yet also suggest the passage of time. It's more of a conversation than a lecture.