Vrouw gezien van opzij before 1905

Joseph Turner Keiley made this photograph, Vrouw gezien van opzij, which translates to Woman seen from the side, using a platinotype process. It looks like the image is emerging from the dark, and it’s this sense of emergence that grabs me. The tonality here is incredibly subtle and soft, especially when you consider the limitations of photographic processes at the time. Look at the way the light gently defines the curve of her neck, and then fades back into the darkness. It’s like Keiley is painting with light and shadow rather than trying to capture a likeness. For me, this piece resonates with the work of artists like James McNeil Whistler, who were also exploring the blurry boundaries between painting and photography, representation and abstraction. It shows how art isn't just about capturing reality, but about creating a mood, a feeling, an atmosphere. It’s an ongoing conversation between different mediums and artists across time.