Een landschap met drinkende koeien en wassende mensen nabij Kepandjen. 1900 - 1935

This stereoscopic photograph was made in Java by Neville Keasberry, and it just sings with the joy of seeing. The layered tones of grey create a sense of depth, almost as if you could walk right into the scene. Look how the artist uses the play of light and shadow to create a feeling of dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. I love the way the eye moves from the cows drinking to the people bathing in the distance. It’s like a visual dance, each element leading to the next. The marks are so delicate, so precise, yet they create a sense of spontaneity and liveliness. There’s a beautiful contrast between the smooth, flowing water and the rough, textured bark of the trees. It’s almost tactile, as if you could reach out and feel the different surfaces. Keasberry reminds me of Eugène Atget, who documented the streets of Paris with such love and attention. Both artists capture a sense of place and time, a feeling of being there in the moment.