Gezicht op zeilboten op het water before 1902

This photo of sailboats on water, by A. Michelis, is from a time when photography was still finding its feet as an art form. I can imagine Michelis carefully composing the scene, waiting for the perfect light to capture the ethereal quality of the water. It's easy to forget now but back then, photographers were kindred spirits with painters. They were grappling with similar questions about light, composition, and representation. In a world obsessed with realism, they both found ways to capture the world, while adding their own voice. Look how the darks and lights of the sea and boats contrast each other. Painters like Turner were obsessed with the effects of light and atmosphere, and you can see a similar sensibility at play here. It’s like Michelis is saying, “I can do that too!” There's a real exchange happening, with each pushing the other to new creative heights. Thinking about it, all of us artists are in an ongoing conversation, riffing on each other's ideas and inspiring the next generation.