Netta Bergsma (links) met twee vriendinnetjes 'v.d Laan' in Brastagi 1926

This evocative little photograph, taken by an anonymous photographer in 1926, captures Netta Bergsma with two friends in Brastagi. The limited tonal range lends the image an uncanny, dreamlike quality. It’s not just what’s depicted, but the way it’s presented that grabs you, you know? The texture of the grass, like a carpet of tiny dashes, and the shadowy fronds of the tree feel almost tactile. See how the girls are posed around the table, each holding a doll? There's a gentle, self-conscious quality, a feeling of wanting to document the moment. It’s in that intention to capture something, and the way the camera’s gaze softens everything, that the magic happens. The soft focus almost feels like a painting technique, like Corot perhaps. This photograph speaks of both a specific time and place, and to universal themes of childhood, friendship, and the desire to preserve a fleeting moment.