Portret van een baby in witte jurk 1901 - 1928

Anton Cornelis Thomann’s ‘Portret van een baby in witte jurk’ is a photo capturing a moment, a fleeting expression, and a certain material reality. Look at how Thomann plays with light and shadow, almost like a painter. The stark contrast creates a soft, dreamlike quality, but it's also quite firm. See how the light falls on the baby’s face, those tiny, pursed lips, and how it dissolves into the white dress? The texture is fascinating, isn’t it? The fur on which the baby sits looks fluffy, almost touchable. There’s an ethereal quality in the dress which sharply contrasts with the baby’s defined facial features. That one strap of frill is like a flourish of paint that gives the piece so much character. I’m reminded of Julia Margaret Cameron, another photographer who blurred the lines between photography and painting, embracing imperfection. It's a reminder that art is about seeing, feeling, and making connections, not about definitive answers.