Kinderportret van Alida Christiana van der Mey c. 1905 - 1920

This delicate, anonymous portrait of Alida Christiana van der Mey is a world of soft browns and gentle forms. Imagine the artist, carefully arranging the baby against the backdrop of what looks like a garden. Was the baby cooperative, or did they wriggle and squirm, making the artist chase after the perfect shot? I know that feeling. Sometimes you have to let the paint, or the baby, lead the way. The oval shape feels intimate, like a locket holding a precious memory. The light is soft, almost dreamlike. And the whole piece invites us to reflect on the way we look at the people we love most. This artist has a deep understanding of the possibilities of their medium. Just like any painter, they’re showing us a world, inviting us into their conversation.