Twee meisjes biddend aan een tafel in een tuin met daarop een speelgoed theeservies before 1891

This sepia photograph by Walter George Mitchell captures two young girls in a garden, heads bowed at a table set with a toy tea service. Their pose of reverence invites us to consider the rich history of prayer across cultures. The act of bowing one’s head is ancient, seen in religious iconography from early Christianity to Buddhism. This gesture signifies submission, humility, and respect, whether before God or a sacred object. Note the evolution of this motif—from the devout kneeling in cathedrals to these children, perhaps unconsciously echoing centuries of supplication during their playtime. The simplicity of their gesture engages us on a deeply emotional level. In these girls, we see a distillation of human faith, a powerful force that transcends dogma and touches something primal within us. Their innocent ritual is both a mirror and a bridge, connecting us to the timeless human search for meaning and connection.