Portret van een Arabische vrouw met vlechten, oorbellen en halsketting 1878 - 18790

This sepia photograph of an Arab woman with braids, earrings, and necklace was taken by Nadar sometime in the 19th century. I can only imagine what it was like for this woman to sit for her portrait. The way her eyes seem to pierce through the veil suggests she was involved in the process. As an artist, I know that making is about the exchange of ideas. Her braids and jewelry must have seemed so beautiful to Nadar, who, let’s not forget, was a master of light and shadow. I can almost see him directing her to turn her head just so, in order to catch the perfect angle of light. The tonal range here is exquisite, and her face is filled with a kind of knowing—as though she understood she was participating in something much bigger than herself. Her image, captured then, resonates even now.