Hoes voor een carte-de-visite gemaakt door M.H. Laddé 1911

This is a carte-de-visite cover made by Machiel Hendricus Laddé, its date is unknown. There's something about the way Laddé frames this young person that feels almost like a sketch. Look at how the edges of the figure dissolve into the background, it’s a study in light and shadow, a process of building form through tonal variation. I love that this way of working renders the subject in soft focus, it feels gentle and unassuming. The material quality of photography is often overlooked but here it's key. The sepia tones give the image a warm, antique feel, enhancing the sense of history and memory. The vignetting around the edges concentrates our focus on the boy's face, making him the center of our attention and emotion. Laddé's contemporary, Julia Margaret Cameron comes to mind. Both explored the expressive possibilities of photography beyond mere representation, but Laddé’s work has a quiet intimacy, inviting contemplation rather than demanding attention.