Oerwoud 1903 - 1910

Hendrik Doijer made this work, Oerwoud, at some point during his lifetime using a camera. What a mysterious photograph! It’s hard to make out what’s going on in this scene, but that’s what draws me in. It’s so murky, it feels like you’re on the verge of discovering something hidden. You can see that Doijer has captured an abundance of natural forms. I can imagine Doijer out there in the landscape, squinting through the lens, as if he’s trying to capture something illusive. The light feels diffuse, almost as if the sun is struggling to pierce through the thick foliage. The composition is dense, almost claustrophobic, but there’s something very interesting about how Doijer has framed the scene, inviting us to look closer and spend time with what's in front of us. I'm so happy that artists like Doijer share their experiences with us. I feel like I have also been there in the landscape with him.