Automaatfoto van een echtpaar 1894 - 1920

This is a small photograph of a couple, made by Bosco. The sepia tones and visible wear give it an aura of mystery. The photograph is framed by an ornate border of repeating curvilinear shapes, which serve to contain and emphasize the subjects within. Yet the subjects themselves are nearly swallowed by the dark tonality. The faces are obscured, rendering them almost ghost-like and anonymous. This play of light and shadow is crucial. It destabilizes the conventional portrait by challenging the viewer’s ability to fully 'see' the subjects. The small size of the work encourages intimate viewing, inviting us to contemplate the elusiveness of memory and the passage of time. The photograph challenges fixed meanings and encourages ongoing interpretation.