Drie portretten van vrouwen met bloemen 1900 - 1930

Walery, whoever they were, made this photographic print, "Drie portretten van vrouwen met bloemen", whenever, with what looks like a fairly standard process to produce a sepia-toned image. It’s all about capturing light and shadow, and in this case, adding a bit of color to those flowers! The images give off the feeling of a hand-tinted postcard, with each woman holding a basket overflowing with blooms. The artist has highlighted the flowers in delicate pinks, making them almost float against the monochrome background. Look closely, and you’ll see how the flowers and the women’s skin almost merge, becoming one hazy form. It feels like they're playing with something between photography and painting, a mix of real and artificial. Walery reminds me a little of Hannah Höch, another artist who was interested in collage and the way that different images can be layered together to create new meanings. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, with each artist building on what came before.