Portret van een onbekende jongen op een balustrade 1879 - 1881

This portrait of an unknown boy, created by Dirk Niekerk in 1879-1881, is a classic example of 19th-century portraiture. The boy is depicted in a formal pose, leaning against a balustrade and looking directly at the viewer. Niekerk’s use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and realism, highlighting the boy's features and capturing his youthful innocence. This small-scale, meticulously crafted photograph would have been a cherished possession for the boy’s family, documenting a fleeting moment in time.