Portret van Sietske Streekstra, Martha en Hein van Steenis op een sofa Possibly 1934

This photograph, of unknown date and creator, captures Sietske Streekstra, Martha, and Hein van Steenis seated on a sofa. The most striking element is the motif of seated figures, echoing countless depictions of Madonna and Child throughout art history. This pose is charged with symbolic weight. Consider the ancient Roman depictions of familial virtue, where seated figures conveyed stability and domestic harmony. Likewise, in early Christian art, Mary's lap becomes the throne of wisdom, the infant Christ nestled as the embodiment of divine knowledge. The gesture of holding a child on one’s lap is reminiscent of images of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. In this photograph, the gesture loses some religious overtones, yet it retains a powerful sense of care. Perhaps, unconsciously, the subjects were arranged in such a manner to convey this message to viewers across time, showcasing an echo of the past as it blends with the present.