Portret van een zittende vrouw 1902 - 1904

This small photo of a seated woman was made by Aug. Dubut-Lebrun. It's such a tiny little thing. Looking at the image, I can imagine the artist trying to capture the essence of this person, but also dealing with the limitations of photography at the time. The woman’s pale dress is so light it seems to blend right into the background. What's interesting is that the artist has chosen to give the sitter the central space within a decorative border that resembles a mirror. She is literally framed and reflected back. The choice of the gold filigree transforms what might be an ordinary photograph into a precious jewel. The image feels intimate, like a secret shared between the artist, the sitter, and now us. I wonder what she was thinking as she sat for this portrait? I can't help but feel that through these kinds of images, artists are constantly engaging with one another, building upon each other's ideas across time and space. It's an ongoing conversation, and we're invited to listen in.