Portret van de kinderen Ad, Johanna en Han van der Kop in een tuin c. 1904 - 1905

Willem Carel van der Kop captured this image of the children Ad, Johanna, and Han van der Kop in a garden. The children are each holding dolls, objects that extend far back into antiquity as votive offerings found in ancient tombs. These figures represent the complex world of childhood. Dolls were and remain deeply connected with notions of innocence and vulnerability, but also serve as a medium through which children can process emotions, fears, and their understanding of the world. It has been suggested that the figures may symbolize the children's inner selves or act as a means of empowerment. The act of portraiture itself is an act of preservation, to hold onto a memory of a specific time, place, and stage of life. The dolls act as a sort of talisman, imbued with the unconscious desires, fears, and affections of their owners. A continuous loop of cultural significance, these objects carry a history of human experience, and their simple presence engages us on a deep level.