Portret van een onbekende vrouw en haar dochter before 1899

This is a portrait of an unknown woman and her daughter by Betty Diesler. In this small rectangular image, a mother and daughter embrace; the limited tonal range of the monochrome print intensifies the emotional tone of the image. The subjects, cut off mid-torso, allow the viewer to focus on the faces of the figures. The work employs soft focus and a shallow depth of field that lends itself to a reading rooted in formalism. Here, the interplay of light and shadow across the subjects’ faces invites the eye to move gently across the surface of the photograph. The composition functions as a semiotic system of signs, with the soft focus and intimate embrace serving to create a symbolic representation of familial love and tenderness. The materiality of the photograph—its small scale and delicate tonal range—underscore the intimate nature of the subject matter. As such, the photograph exists not just as an aesthetic object but as a carrier of cultural meaning, a testament to the powerful bonds that tie individuals together.