Wooden door in Kotor by Rene van Heerdt

Early in the morning, when Kotor was still sleeping, something seemingly simple caught my eye. A green wooden door, flanked by two green wooden window shutters. No big building, no square, no view. Just this piece of façade in a quiet street.

Just because everything was still quiet, the detail was given space. The paint on the wood was no longer perfect. Here and there it flaked off, as if time had gently scratched the surface. The green was deep and weathered, not a fresh colour, but a shade with history. The shutters were closed, the door shut. What was behind it remained a secret.

The light was soft and low. It hit the door just enough to make texture visible, without being harsh. The shadows were long and quiet, as if they were not yet willing to disengage from the night. Beneath my feet was a floor of colourful stones, uneven and lived-in. Each cube different, together a pattern you cannot imagine, only find. The stones caught the light in their own way, giving the sculpture an unexpected warmth.

I stood and watched. This was not a moment that screamed for attention. It whispered. That is precisely why it was so strong. No people, no movement, just shape, colour and silence.

In a few hours, someone would walk past this without stopping. But right now, this piece of Kotor was complete. Everything was right. Sometimes one door is enough to understand a whole city.

Doors, one of my favourites anyway.