North Holland Canal (?) 1904

This photograph of what might be the North Holland Canal was taken by James Higson. He lived from 1862 to 1933, so this was made sometime within those years. What strikes me about this image is how Higson plays with light and shadow. The tonal range isn't super wide, but within that, he finds infinite variety, which reminds me of the way I approach color in my painting. Look at how the light catches the sails, turning them almost white against the darker hulls of the ships. See how that single boat off to the right, with its reflection, provides a kind of anchor for the eye amidst the scene’s complex layering of boat upon boat? You might think of Edward Hopper, who knew how to distill a scene down to its essential elements. But here, Higson is doing something different. He's embracing the chaos of the harbor, finding beauty in the tangle of masts and rigging. This photo is a conversation about seeing.