Studioportret van een kind op een rieten stoel c. 1880 - 1900

This vintage photograph by Photographisch Gezelschap captures a child seated on a wicker chair. It's fascinating how the artist poses the child, adorned with a ribbon, as if enthroned. Consider, if you will, the 'throne' itself. Wicker, woven from natural elements, carries echoes of ancient domesticity and craft. Across cultures, the act of sitting—elevated from the ground—has symbolized authority and stability. We find it in royal portraits throughout history, from pharaohs on their stone seats to emperors on gilded chairs. The child's innocent gaze, combined with the formal pose, creates a poignant contrast. It's a fleeting moment, but it speaks volumes about cultural memory. The image resonates with a timeless fascination for the cyclical nature of life, ever resurfacing in different guises.