Portret van een zittende vrouw met baby op schoot 1855 - 1865

Editor: Here we have an 1855 gelatin silver print, "Portrait of a Seated Woman with Baby on her Lap," attributed to Paul Emile Pesme. It strikes me as quite a formal, perhaps even stiff, composition. What stands out to you in this image? Curator: It whispers tales of a time when photography held a certain gravity. Think of it as capturing a moment of immortality, eh? And my eyes are drawn not only to the subjects but also to the visible edges of the photo album and its metal fixtures! This creates a frame within a frame effect, like looking through a window into a bygone era, what do you think? Editor: That's an interesting perspective! The outer frame makes the image more tangible. Do you get a sense of their relationship? Curator: Absolutely! There’s tenderness but it is very contained, don't you think? And let's think of the sitter's experience here - no fleeting selfies in those days! She’s presenting herself and her child to posterity in a medium still considered miraculous and she is collaborating with the artist, or is she? This reminds us of what photography has lost in its journey of progress towards speed and facility. What thoughts do the subject's expressions stir up for you? Editor: The weight of the process certainly impacts my reading of it! They both seem self-conscious. Thanks for putting this portrait into its social context for me, it’s been incredibly enlightening. Curator: My pleasure! Perhaps we ought to always be asking what art used to demand of those who approached it. Food for thought, eh?