Vrouwen bij een waterput in Gastouri op Korfoe before 1910

Here's a photograph by Frédéric Boissonnas of women at a well in Gastouri, Corfu, and its captured in these quiet, muted sepia tones. I imagine Boissonnas setting up his camera, maybe thinking about light and shadow as he composes the shot, waiting patiently for the right moment. What were those women talking about? Were they even talking at all? Look at their postures; some are bent over fetching water, while others are chatting. In the background, there's this arched structure that almost feels like a stage set, giving the scene a timeless, theatrical quality. There's a painterly touch, like the soft focus and the way the light drapes over the figures, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. It reminds me of early 20th-century painters who were also exploring everyday life. I feel like Boissonnas was trying to capture a fleeting moment, a slice of life that speaks to something larger about community, labor, and the human experience. It's like a visual poem, a snapshot of a world that feels both familiar and distant.