Schip in droogdok 1940 - 1943

This small black and white photograph, "Schip in droogdok", is housed at the Rijksmuseum and was made by an anonymous artist. The print is small, almost like a snapshot, and the greyscale palette gives it a timeless feel, like a memory fading at the edges. There's a real material presence to this image. The texture of the paper, the slight imperfections, all speak to the hand of the artist, even if their name is lost to us. Look closely at the way the ship sits in the dock. The lines are blurred, softened, and the contrast between light and shadow creates a moody atmosphere. It reminds me a bit of the early photographs by artists like Alfred Stieglitz, who were trying to capture not just a likeness, but a feeling. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, across time and different media. It’s okay if we don’t have all the answers; sometimes, the questions are more interesting anyway.