Boerderij op een heuvel before 1899

This small print, "Boerderij op een heuvel" – or "Farm on a Hill" – by Otto H. Müller, is quietly nestled in the pages of an aged book. Without knowing more about Müller, or even when this was made, it’s challenging to truly situate the photograph within a specific cultural or historical moment. Yet, the image itself speaks volumes about the artist's perspective. The photograph shows us a rural scene, a small farm perched atop a hill. It's a scene of tranquility, but perhaps also isolation. There’s a sense of simplicity in the photograph’s composition. The hill is bare and the farmhouse is humble. Without color, Müller highlights the textures and shapes, turning the ordinary into something quietly monumental. There’s something inherently personal and emotional about this photograph. It’s not just about capturing a scene, but about conveying a feeling, an atmosphere, or a mood. We can almost feel the stillness of the air, hear the silence of the countryside. Perhaps that is Müller’s intention.