Portret van Eliza Laurillard 1908

This is a memorial portrait of Eliza Laurillard, made by an anonymous photographer, and it’s really interesting how they've used light to soften the edges. It's like painting with light, focusing on the process of revelation. The texture is smooth, almost dreamlike. Look at the way the light catches the edges of his beard, creating a halo effect, it’s all about surface and how it reflects our gaze. This soft focus makes him look almost ethereal, a ghost in the machine. The inscription 'In Memoriam' reinforces this feeling, marking the transition from life to memory. This portrait reminds me of Gerhard Richter's blurred photographs. Both artists use their medium to explore the elusiveness of memory and the passage of time. They remind us that art doesn’t have to be about answers, but rather about embracing the questions.