Portret van een onbekende jonge man 1894 - 1917

This photographic portrait of an unknown young man was made by Chits & Fils, but we don't know exactly when. It's the type of sepia image that turns up in family albums, a faded memory of someone long gone. Look at the way the light catches the young man's face. It's soft, diffused, almost dreamlike. This isn't about sharp realism, it's about capturing a mood, a feeling. The sepia tone adds to that sense of nostalgia, like a memory tinged with longing. Notice how the details fade into the background, creating a sense of depth and mystery. The physicality of the medium is key here. The paper has a slightly rough texture, and the image has faded and discoloured over time. These imperfections add to the image's character, making it feel more personal and intimate. In a way, it reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter’s blurred figurative paintings made after photographs. It's a conversation across time, a reminder that art is always in dialogue with the past. It’s beautiful, right?