Portret van een onbekende vrouw before 1903

This photograph by Alfred Schneider seems to come from within the pages of a book. It’s a portrait of an unknown woman printed in black and white. Her face is so present, like she's right here with us, but it is printed on a page next to some German text. I wonder what it felt like for the photographer to capture her gaze, those eyes that follow you around the room. Was there a relationship there, or was it just a fleeting moment between strangers? Did she consent to having her image captured and reproduced in this way? The woman’s eyes are dark, intense, yet soft around the edges, creating a sense of approachability. It reminds me of how artists look at one another’s work, seeking inspiration, having dialogues across time and space. We, as artists, are all connected in this big web, each of us borrowing and sharing our ideas. It makes you think, doesn't it?