Portret van Elisabeth Catharina Broers en haar grootmoeder Geertruida van Pesch 1900 - 1910

This intimate portrait of Elisabeth Catharina Broers and her grandmother Geertruida van Pesch was produced using photography, at a time when the medium was still new. The image is small, almost miniature. Look closely, and you can see the individual specks and imperfections on its surface, like tiny constellations. I love that. The anonymous artist has captured two figures in a tight, formal composition. The tones are muted, sepia-tinged, lending a sense of nostalgia. The grandmother sits, perhaps holding a book or small object, while the young girl stands beside her, her dress adorned with fine details. There’s something very personal about this image, like a treasured keepsake. It reminds me of the work of artists like Luc Tuymans, who use muted color palettes to create images with a quiet emotional intensity. Art like this isn’t about definitive answers, it’s about sparking a conversation, a feeling, a memory.