Vrouw bij een vijver bij Garoet, Nederlands-Indië c. 1895 - 1915

This black and white photograph, titled "Vrouw bij een vijver bij Garoet, Nederlands-Indië" was taken by Onnes Kurkdjian, sometime between 1851 and 1903. I love the way the tonal range in this photograph pulls you in. Look at the palm trees to the left, how they frame the image, drawing your eye to the calm stillness of the pond. The light is soft, diffused, which gives the photograph a dreamlike quality. Notice how the artist captures the reflections on the water, the clouds above mirrored in the pond below. The mountains in the distance create a sense of depth, but it's the woman by the pond that anchors the composition. The way the light catches the trees reminds me of the work of 19th century French painter, Camille Corot. I like to think about photography as a kind of conversation between artists across time, each one building upon the work of those who came before. Ultimately, it's up to us to decide what the work means, to find our own personal connection to it.