Portret van prinses Beatrix en prinses Irene Possibly 1939

This small, black-and-white photograph by Lamme captures a sweet moment between two young royal sisters. The slightly blurred focus gives it a dreamy, nostalgic quality, like a half-remembered childhood memory. I wonder what it was like for the photographer, capturing such an intimate scene with the weight of history watching. There's a tenderness in the older sister's gaze, a curiosity as she looks at the baby, maybe even a touch of responsibility settling in. You can almost feel the soft fabric of their clothes, the gentle warmth of the room. The choice of black and white adds a timeless quality, reminding us of the countless portraits that have been made throughout history, each one trying to capture a fleeting moment in time. We’re all connected through these images, and it makes you wonder about the relationship of the painter to those that came before.