Portret van een jonge vrouw 1894 - 1920

Anton Cornelis Thomann captured this small photographic portrait of a young woman, sometime in the early 20th century. It’s all in shades of grey and brown, which gives it this timeless, slightly melancholic vibe. What strikes me is the texture in the photograph itself. You can almost feel the smoothness of the paper, but also the way the light catches on the woman's lace collar and the wisps of hair around her face. There's a softness there, a delicate touch. Look at the way Thomann captured the subtle gradations of light and shadow on her face. It's like he's not just showing us what she looks like, but also hinting at something deeper, some hidden aspect of her personality. It reminds me a little bit of some of Julia Margaret Cameron's portraits, that same focus on capturing the inner life of the sitter, even if it means sacrificing some sharpness or clarity. It's about feeling, rather than just seeing.