Portret van een baby 1880 - 1910

This is Hans Rupprecht’s small format photograph "Portret van een baby". The photograph's formal composition creates a layered viewing experience. The cream colored paper and metal clasp are the exterior. Within the album page is a rectangular border which contains the photograph. The sepia tones and shallow depth of field isolate the baby against the dark background. A soft blanket creates further texture that contrasts with the baby's smooth skin. The photograph functions as a sign. Roland Barthes defined the photographic sign as a denotative message devoid of a code; however, the framing is an additional, connotative sign. The geometric lines of the album and its presentation clash with the organic form of the baby. This contrast signifies the imposition of structure onto a fluid and as yet unformed life. The formal construction of this work reveals photography as a medium to fix time and identity, inviting ongoing re-interpretation.