Portret van een onbekende baby c. 1868 - 1888

Editor: This is a rather sweet albumen print from Rooswinkel & Co, dating back to around 1868-1888. It's a portrait of an unknown baby. It feels so… sepia-toned and Victorian, almost haunting. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Haunting, yes, that's a lovely word. You know, I find it quite tender. It makes me think about the fleeting nature of time. Albumen prints were so popular then; imagine the ritual of posing this little one, the hopes wrapped up in this single image! Do you see the way the light falls, almost like a halo? It’s as if the photographer wanted to capture not just an image, but a spirit. Editor: Yes, I see that now. I was so caught up in the old-fashioned look, I missed the… the intention, maybe? The lighting does give it an almost ethereal quality. Curator: Exactly! And think about it – a photographer consciously choosing that light, wanting to elevate this child, to make them timeless. Isn’t that powerful? I wonder what that baby grew up to be… did they ever look back at this image, this preserved moment of innocence? It’s like a whisper across the years. Editor: Wow, I hadn't considered the photographer's intent so deeply. It transforms the photo from a simple portrait into a much more loaded artifact. I suppose these are more than just pictures; they're little time capsules. Curator: Precisely! Each mark and detail holds a piece of history. You peel back the layers, like an onion… perhaps a slightly tear-inducing onion. What a marvel to share in this sentiment.