Portret van Han van der Kop en zijn echtgenote 1933

This portrait of Han van der Kop and his wife, is an old photograph. It was made by an anonymous artist. The sepia tones and soft focus give it such a romantic, antique feel. The texture almost seems to melt away, with the image emerging gradually from a soft brown background. It's like remembering something that's already passed into history. Look closely at the way the light catches her face. The slight, subtle variations in tone give her form and presence. And the detail in his gaze! It's a reminder that photography is as much about what the artist chooses to show us. The whole picture is so touching; it reminds me a bit of the work of Gerhard Richter, in the way it looks like a memory fading back into abstraction. It makes you wonder who they were, and how they saw the world.