Portret van een vrouw met brede kraag 1880 - 1920

Editor: Here we have "Portret van een vrouw met brede kraag," or "Portrait of a Woman with a Wide Collar," by Georg Schönau, a gelatin silver print likely from between 1880 and 1920. It strikes me as remarkably austere, and somewhat haunting. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Haunting is a good word! I feel drawn to the woman’s direct gaze. There’s an undeniable stillness, but also a powerful presence that seems to transcend the photographic paper itself. I wonder, what kind of life did she lead? That broad lace collar – so meticulously rendered, right? – almost feels like a shield, both protecting her and subtly announcing her place in society. Do you think it reveals or conceals something? Editor: That's an interesting point. Perhaps it's both? There's a formality but also an attempt to appear genteel, elevated. I'm curious about how different this portrait style is compared to those taken today. Curator: Absolutely. It's so different from our selfie-saturated world, isn’t it? Imagine sitting for this portrait. No casual smiles, no filters, just you and the camera. What do you think a modern version of the image might capture, that this does not? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the sitting itself. A modern equivalent would likely convey movement, maybe even a narrative, whereas this is a moment suspended. It makes me reflect on the artifice of the 'perfect' image, both then and now. Curator: Precisely! Photography then was so concerned with immortality; now, it seems concerned with immediacy. Thank you, that’s quite a change. Editor: It makes one appreciate how a single image, captured at a specific time, can speak volumes. I will see portraits in new ways from now on!