Portret van Irene With met geit 1920 - 1935

Here’s an anonymous photograph of Irene With and her goat that lives at the Rijksmuseum. It’s a simple black and white image, capturing a moment, a slice of life with the softest focus and minimal tonal range. The photo, though simple, has a certain depth. It’s not so much about capturing the perfect image, but the essence of the connection between the girl and her animal friend. The texture of the goat’s fur and the girl's white shirt is palpable, inviting you to reach out and touch. Look at the way the light catches on the goat's back, how soft it looks. You can almost feel its warmth. It's like the photograph has absorbed the smells and sounds of that time, making it more than just a visual record. This unassuming photograph has a playful, intimate quality, not unlike the casual portraits of Édouard Vuillard, where the subject seems caught in a moment of quiet contemplation, inviting us to share in its simple beauty.