Portret van Carel Willink en A.M. Hammacher aan tafel c. 1930

This black and white photograph in the Rijksmuseum captures Carel Willink and A.M. Hammacher at a table. I can imagine the photographer carefully framing the shot, considering the composition, and waiting for the right moment to capture these figures in a domestic setting. They are poised over paper, pens in hand, ready to write, muse, or maybe even sketch. You can tell that there is an element of collaboration in this image. Willink and Hammacher are in the act of creation or discussion, engaging in an exchange of ideas and insights. Perhaps the photographer was trying to capture the essence of their creative partnership, or a shared moment of inspiration. I know that feeling, as a painter, when you are in the zone and your mind is in a place of pure experimentation. The picture is small but it gives a glimpse into the world of these two intellectuals and their practice. It's a reminder that artmaking and writing is an ongoing conversation across time.