Portret van een onbekende meisje 1900 - 1914

This portrait of an unknown girl was made by John George Kirby, but we don't know when exactly. The way the image fades into the edges of the card is so interesting. It's almost like the girl is emerging from a mist, or sinking back into it. I’m struck by the tones. The image feels like it was made with a very limited palette, maybe just one pigment, sepia, diluted to various strengths. It’s like Kirby was exploring the infinite possibilities within a single color. There’s an incredible softness to the image, especially around her face and hair. It’s like he’s capturing a fleeting moment, a whisper of a memory. And I love the way the light catches her cheek. It’s a subtle touch, but it gives the portrait such depth and warmth. Looking at this photograph makes me think of the paintings of Gerhard Richter. They both share a similar interest in blurring the lines between representation and abstraction, between memory and reality. Art can be a conversation across time and space.