Portret van een zittende vrouw en een staand meisje 1850 - 1892

This is a portrait of a seated woman and a standing girl by Charles D'Hoy. The photograph’s composition relies on a stark contrast of form. The seated woman occupies a substantial volume, her striped dress creating a series of vertical lines that are disrupted by the fabric’s folds, while the girl, dressed in white, offers a lighter, more ethereal presence. The tonal range is carefully controlled, with D’Hoy using the varying shades to define the subjects’ features and clothing. The softness of the light contributes to a sense of intimacy, yet the formal arrangement keeps the figures at a remove. The contrast in texture is significant, between the smoothness of the girl's dress and the more complex patterns of the woman’s attire. Ultimately, this photograph is an object of careful construction where D'Hoy seems less concerned with capturing likeness and more with exploring the formal interplay of light, texture, and shape.