Iffley Mill from below before 1912

This little photograph, "Iffley Mill from Below," was made by Henry Taunt sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s like a quick sketch, right? A way of seeing that's all about light and shadow. Look at how the mill is rendered, it’s a blocky, textural presence. You can almost feel the rough stone and the way the light catches on it. The artist doesn't try to hide anything, instead the texture becomes part of the story. I love how the trees are just suggested, like a flurry of marks that create a sense of depth and atmosphere. There's this one little dark mark, right at the base of the mill, it pulls your eye in and then lets it wander across the whole scene. It’s not just about the mill itself but also about the whole world around it. It reminds me a little of Corot, who was also trying to capture these fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. Art is like a conversation, isn’t it?