Portret van een onbekende jongen en meisje 1866 - 1885

Emil Thiedemann created this small photograph of an unknown boy and girl in Bremen, Germany. The children are formally dressed in matching outfits which signal their family's wealth and status. The image appears to capture a moment of childhood during a time when societal expectations of children were evolving. Children of the time were often regarded as miniature adults, expected to behave with decorum. Yet, the children in the photograph don’t seem to fit neatly into that expectation. While their clothing attempts to mirror adult fashion, their expressions capture a sense of innocence. The stiffness of their poses hints at the restrictions placed on them, while their gazes suggest a longing for freedom. Consider how this photograph invites us to reflect on our own childhoods, and the tension between conformity and individuality.