Portret van een jonge vrouw 1899 - 1940

This photographic portrait of a young woman, made by Mary Stuart Ltd, has a dreamy, soft focus. You can see a little halo of light around her head. Looking at this photograph, I get the feeling that this artist was trying to express something really tender and vulnerable. The monochromatic palette almost feels like a veil, as though the artist is shielding her from the viewer's direct gaze. But not completely, because it captures the moment her lips turn into a smile. It's like the beginning of a thought, or maybe the lingering trace of a memory. She seems to have an understanding of how to capture light, shadow, and emotion, all working together to create an image that transcends a simple representation. The softness of the image lends the picture its emotional depth. It kind of reminds me of Gertrude Käsebier, with her Pictorialist photography. You can feel their hand, their sensitivity, in every aspect of the work.