Portret van een vrouw 1908 - 1920

This is a portrait of a woman made by Willem Christiaan Kroes. I love how the image emerges in shades of grey— a chromatic exploration of tone and texture. I wonder what the subject was thinking? Her gaze is direct, but what is it that she is seeing? Maybe she was looking toward the future. Or just trying to sit still. She probably had to sit still for a long time! Kroes has captured a moment in time with his careful composition. The dress is beautifully rendered. I can see the artist was exploring the potential of monochrome to capture subtle differences in tone and texture. This is a more restrained colour palette, but it still manages to evoke mood and feeling. What does this image say about the role of women in society? I wonder how the subject felt about being looked at. These are all questions that art prompts in us, to learn from one another across time.