Groepsportret met twee vrouwen en een man 1882 - 1920

This group portrait with two women and a man was captured by Hendrik van Noort, a Dutch photographer, who lived from 1860 to 1940. Looking at this black-and-white image, I imagine Van Noort carefully setting up his shot, arranging the figures just so. I wonder what it was like for them, the sitters? Did they feel awkward or excited? The man in the suit, sitting with his legs crossed, looks a little self-conscious, but those women seem serene, their voluminous skirts telling their own story. I am particularly struck by the way the light falls across their faces, casting soft shadows that give them a sense of depth and character. It reminds me of some of the Old Masters, like Rembrandt, who used light and shadow to create such drama and emotion in their portraits. We are all standing on each other's shoulders, in a way, taking inspiration from those who came before us, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.