Man, vrouw en kind halen water bij een waterput, Japan 1900 - 1907

T. Enami made this hand colored albumen print in Japan, and the surface feels like a drawing. The coloring is applied in a way that suggests intention, but also the freedom of a sketch. The pastel hues are soft, with the greens in the foliage being especially muted. It’s like the colors themselves are whispering a secret, hinting at the scene without shouting. Look at the way the light seems to fall on the figure drawing water from the well, there’s a beautiful interaction between the pale blues and grays in the robes, that emphasizes the ritualistic action. It makes me think of artists like Gerhard Richter, who also used photography as a starting point, blurring the lines between reality and representation. Ultimately, the piece asks us to consider how we look, and how we perceive the world around us. The colors work in tandem to evoke a sense of quiet contemplation.