Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1892 - 1917

Marinus Cornelis Dingjan made this small portrait of an unknown woman, but I wonder, did he know her, or did she remain anonymous? The sepia tones create a sense of intimacy and distance all at once. It feels like this photo was a collaboration between photographer and sitter. The woman probably sat very still, while the world moved around them. The black ruffled trim around her neck is such a sharp contrast with the smoothness of her face, which gives an overall impression of strength but there is a hint of vulnerability. The light catches the planes of her face. Her eyes are deep and shadowed. I wonder, what was on her mind that day? It’s as if she is having an interior dialogue that we will never be privy to. Painters throughout the centuries have captured these fleeting expressions, and each artist builds on the discoveries of those who came before them. Even now, we can see the painter's fascination with the human face as an unending source of creativity.