Vrouw met jongen 1900 - 1922

This is Robert Julius Boers' photo, Vrouw met jongen, made in the Dutch East Indies with a photographic process. The sepia tone has a quality of dream, a nostalgic hue, which is interesting when you think about the history here. I'm drawn to the way the light seems to soften the edges, obscuring details and flattening the space. The texture of the print itself feels almost like fabric, and yet, it is a constructed image. If you look closely at the table, you can see how the light defines the edges, creating a subtle contrast that gives it dimension. The whole piece reminds me of a faded memory, something precious but just out of reach. It’s got this way of balancing clarity and ambiguity that I find really compelling. Like looking at a Gerhard Richter painting, or a painting by Agnes Martin - there is something very personal but elusive going on here.