Laantje naar het woonhuis van Plantage Accaribo, met de rivierboot Prins Hendrik op de achtergrond. 1913 - 1930

This is a small photographic slide made by Theodoor Brouwers and held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Looking at this, I imagine Brouwers with his camera, framing his shot, thinking about composition, light, and the story he wants to tell. The grainy quality is the thing; this feels like an intimate glimpse into a faraway place. It's like he's saying, "Look at this, isn't it fascinating?" The photo feels melancholic; it speaks of distance, both geographical and temporal. I can imagine standing where he stood, feeling the humid air and hearing the sounds of the river. It's like a memory, faded and softened by time. Photography for Brouwers must have been like painting for me - a way of capturing a moment, an idea, a feeling, and freezing it in time. Ultimately, Brouwers' photograph and my paintings share a common goal: to communicate, to connect, and to share a vision of the world, even if that vision is fragmented, ambiguous, and open to interpretation.