Portret van een onbekende baby op een stoel 1890 - 1918

J. Siewers & Zoon made this photograph of an unknown baby on a chair, we're not sure exactly when or where. The sepia tones and soft focus lend an air of nostalgia, like looking back through a hazy memory. The baby's dress seems to glow against the dark backdrop. This little figure is so still, but there’s a sense of presence. I keep returning to the chair, the way the woven texture contrasts with the smoothness of the baby's skin. The ornate swirls of the chair back reminds me of the baroque, with its decorative excess. The dark shadows add depth, turning the photo into a sculptural object. This picture reminds me of the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, who also captured portraits with a soft, dreamlike quality. This photo, like her portraits, invites us to linger, question, and imagine the stories behind the image.