Portret van een Nepalese vrouw c. 1895 - 1915

Theodor Paar created this photograph of a Nepalese woman, a portrait frozen in time, capturing a moment of stillness. The play of light and shadow dances across her face, highlighting her features and the intricate details of her traditional jewelry. I wonder what Paar was thinking, what was he looking for when he made this image? You can see this dialogue between the photographer, his sitter, and the apparatus of photography, it feels so delicate. The woman’s gaze, though fixed, seems to hold a universe of stories, a life unfolding beyond the frame. It reminds me of other portraits I’ve seen. Maybe this photograph is having a conversation with them, echoing across time and place? I’m constantly inspired by the back-and-forth between artists, like a game of telephone, we all feed into one another’s work, don't we?