Johannes van Zijll de Jong rokend aan theetafel in tuin 1930 - 1935

This photograph shows Johannes van Zijll de Jong smoking at a tea table in a garden, taken by an anonymous artist. The image is mostly greyscale with varying tones, almost like an ink wash, where the artist has subtly worked the tones in layers. It's interesting to consider the texture of the photograph, smooth in some areas, grainy in others, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Look at the way the light catches the teacups and tablecloth, highlighting the contrast between light and shadow. It's a pretty stark monochrome, not unlike some of Gerhard Richter's black and white paintings, which are often based on photographs. You could say this is a kind of proto-painting, in which the photograph becomes not just a record of reality, but an exploration of form, light, and composition, just like the Old Masters. Art is always in conversation with what came before, and what will come after.