Portret van een onbekende jonge man 1894 - 1917

This sepia photograph, "Portret van een onbekende jonge man," was made by Chits & Fils. You know, looking at this portrait, I can imagine the photographer carefully adjusting the light, wanting to capture the essence of this young man. I wonder if he knew how to pose or if he felt awkward, standing there in his jacket and bow tie? I feel like the photographer might have been working to evoke a particular feeling here. The muted tones and the soft focus give it a timeless quality, like a faded memory. You can see the texture of the paper, almost feel the history embedded in its surface. It's interesting to think about how photography preserves a moment, making it so that we can still connect with this stranger across time. In a way, art-making is always about connecting, sharing, and building on what others have done before.