Portret van Piet en Antoon Vonk op een fiets before 1912

This is an early photograph, likely from the dawn of personal cameras, capturing Piet and Antoon Vonk perched on a bicycle. The sepia tones give it an antique feel, like a memory fading at the edges, which I just love. There’s an endearing quality to its amateurism; the composition is a little awkward, the lighting uneven. It makes you wonder about the hands involved in its creation, who was behind the camera, what the space was like that they were in, and how many attempts it took to capture the image! The handwritten text adds an intimate layer, a personal message intended only for the recipient. The beauty of this work lies in its unassuming nature, in its ability to transport us to a specific moment in time. It reminds me a little of the work of Gertrude Käsebier, who also saw the beauty and art in the everyday. It is a reminder that art is not always about grand gestures, but can be found in the quiet, personal moments that shape our lives.