Woonhuis met vrouw en kind op het bordes, vermoedelijk in Rusland 1903 - 1904

This photo, maybe from Russia, shows a house, a woman, and a kid on the porch, and was taken by Joseph Cheetham. I’m immediately struck by the faded warmth of the image. It’s like a memory, sepia-toned and soft around the edges. I feel like the person who made this was interested in the architecture, but they were maybe more interested in the idea of ‘home’ – the human element. I can imagine them carefully composing the shot, trying to capture a sense of everyday life, and maybe struggling to get a clear shot in the available light. The textures here are so important – the grain of the wood, the rough stone foundation, and the smoothness of the porch railing. It all adds up to a feeling of lived-in comfort. I like how it reminds me of other photography from this time, and I’m reminded that even in capturing something straightforward, there's room to leave a trace of yourself. We are always inspired by each other.