Portret van Christina Maria Lucie Langhout 1882 - 1922

This is H.C. de Graff’s ‘Portret van Christina Maria Lucie Langhout’ and its a photograph rather than a painting so I have to shift my perception a little. I imagine the artist, focused, peering into the lens, adjusting the light, asking her to sit still. Christina seems strong, forthright. She is looking directly at us, or rather, at the camera. The palette is restricted: monochrome sepias, faded creams and buffs and browns and beiges, giving it the feeling of memory, or looking back. The composition is simple, just a head and shoulders shot, ensuring maximum focus on Christina's face. You know, portraiture is an interesting thing. It's not just about capturing a likeness, but about trying to say something about a person, to capture their essence. What was De Graaff trying to say about Christina Maria Lucie Langhout? What was she trying to say about herself?