Marktkoopvrouw verkoopt sinaasappels in Den Haag 1904

This is a photograph by James Higson, of a market scene in the Hague. The limited sepia palette makes you think about how time and process affect the work, like an old memory. The photo describes a world of bustling commerce but is softened around the edges, like in a dream, but the market woman stands, anchored by the strong vertical lines of the wooden crates. You can almost smell the citrus. She offers a focal point amidst the scene's gentle chaos, her form a study in contrasts. The rigid geometry of the boxes supporting her trade contrasts with the soft billows of her skirt. Higson’s capture reminds me of something Van Gogh might have painted were he a photographer. It suggests art doesn't need to shout; sometimes, it whispers, inviting you to lean in. It's about the ongoing conversation between the artist, the subject, and us. It reminds us that art should embrace ambiguity, finding beauty in the multiple interpretations it inspires.