Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong met twee vrouwen en een meisje in een tuin 1933

This black and white photograph, ‘Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong met twee vrouwen en een meisje in een tuin’, presents a formal portrait of four people in what might be their garden. I'm immediately drawn to the interplay of textures. The soft, out-of-focus garden foliage contrasts with the sharp details of the figures' clothing. I imagine the photographer carefully composing the shot, balancing light and shadow to capture the essence of each person. Was it a collaborative effort, or did one person take charge? It makes me think about the photographer's intentions. Were they aiming for a candid snapshot, or a more formal representation? And how do the subjects feel about being photographed? Do they feel seen, understood, or perhaps slightly vulnerable? What were they thinking when they posed for the photograph? Photography, like painting, is a way of engaging with the world, of capturing moments and emotions in tangible form. It's a form of embodied expression, which embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning over fixed or definitive readings.