Vrouw plukt bloemen before 1905

Constant Puyo made this photograph, Vrouw plukt bloemen, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It’s a scene filled with stillness, the kind that makes you hold your breath, right? I'm thinking about how, like a painter layering colors, Puyo played with light and shadow to create this dreamy effect. It’s soft, almost like he’s painting with light, am I right? The woman’s form and its reflection, blurred yet present, make me think about what it means to capture a moment. He probably thought a lot about the Impressionists and their painting techniques, trying to capture light. It’s like Puyo is asking, can photography also be as emotional and free as a brushstroke?