Portret van Dootje van Zijll de Jong 1930 - 1935

Editor: We are looking at an intriguing gelatin silver print, “Portret van Dootje van Zijll de Jong,” created between 1930 and 1935 by an anonymous photographer. There is an incredible sense of stillness, of composure and symmetry. The monochromatic palette feels so delicate! What formal qualities strike you? Curator: The photograph’s formal composition indeed dictates its affect. Note the balance, how the figure occupies almost all of the vertical space within the frame, the even tonality throughout. Her hat mimics the overall rectangular shape of the photo itself, almost creating a frame within a frame. Consider how her crossed hands in the center provide an anchor, dividing the figure. Editor: I notice the strong vertical lines, with her form positioned in the direct center of the frame. The soft gradient in the backdrop almost seems to act as a spotlight that isolates the sitter’s likeness. This elevates the subject, it makes it hard to break my gaze. How might the geometric qualities of her outfit interplay with the softness? Curator: Precisely. There's an elegant contrast. The geometry inherent in the Art Deco movement, evidenced in the angular tailoring of her suit and hat, finds resolution in the softened edges of the gelatin silver print itself, not to mention the shadow effects and subtle, graduated background. What theoretical frame would you apply to this analysis? Editor: Considering the composition's strict structurality, would that potentially qualify it as more structuralist as opposed to a straight art deco composition, based on the geometry in fashion that was prominent at the time? Curator: That is a very good question! And I feel the key for understanding this photography relies precisely on this point, this tension and play between composition and inherent qualities! Editor: This was very insightful; it is nice to focus on the geometry within the shot and see how everything harmonizes so elegantly together, even in photography.