Portret van twee onbekende meisjes in witte jurken before 1905

J. Van Crewel Jeune made this gorgeous photographic portrait in what looks like the late 19th or early 20th century, showing two young girls in white dresses. The image has faded sepia tones, and there is a wonderful softness that makes it feel almost dreamlike. I wonder about Van Crewel, and what it was like setting up this shot. Did he or she think about the soft light filtering through the backdrop? And what about the girls? Were they nervous, excited, or just plain bored? The one on the right looks a little stoic, almost like she's trying not to fidget. The veils cascade like gentle waterfalls and catch the light like a Vermeer painting. It's interesting how photographs are so different now – everyone is so keen to pose. With this, you get the sense that Van Crewel was trying to catch a fleeting moment, a whisper of adolescence on the cusp of adulthood. The photograph is an echo from the past, and it resonates with the work of many artists grappling with capturing the fragility of life.