Portret van Wies de Raaf 1905

This is a photograph of Wies de Raaf by Stephanus Adrianus Schotel, and what strikes me is the way the light is used to create this incredibly soft, almost ethereal quality. It's all about the subtle gradations here. The way the light catches her face, for instance, seems to glow from within, while the background kind of fades away. You can almost feel the texture of her dress, even though it's just a photo, because of the way the light defines those plaid lines. It reminds me of those old black and white movies where everything seems so romantic and mysterious. Think about how artists like Gerhard Richter use photography as a starting point. This photograph isn't just a representation of a person; it's a study in light, texture, and emotion. It's about capturing something fleeting and turning it into something timeless.