Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1895 - 1910

This portrait of an unknown woman was made with photography in Amsterdam by Photographisch Gezelschap. Looking at this faded photograph, it’s like gazing through time itself. The sepia tones soften everything, turning crisp edges into gentle suggestions. Notice how the light delicately caresses her face, especially around the eyes, creating subtle shadows that hint at depth and emotion. Her gaze is direct, yet there's an openness, an invitation to connect. I wonder about the process of sitting for such a portrait – the stillness, the anticipation. The texture of the print itself adds another layer. It’s not perfectly smooth; there are subtle imperfections, tiny bumps and grains that remind us of the physical reality of the image. It reminds me of the painter Gerhard Richter, who used photography as a starting point, blurring the boundaries between mediums, embracing the beauty of imperfection, the poetry of chance. This photograph, like his paintings, invites us to see beyond the surface.