Groepsportret van negen personen, onder wie Aletta Cornelia Anna Voombergh (1828-1913), de moeder van de fotograaf 1906

Here we see a photograph made by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht, capturing a family group, including the photographer’s mother. Look at how he plays with dark and light in this work, letting the blacks and greys emerge in a way that feels almost painterly. The texture in this photograph is intriguing. While it lacks the tactile quality of paint, the artist coaxes a range of tones from the photographic process that create a certain depth. The light falling on the faces, the stark contrast of the children's white dresses against the darker backdrop all build a kind of emotional resonance. Note the patterned lace cloth draped in front of the seated figures; the detail here is so precise it gives an impression of movement. This piece reminds me a bit of the work of early portrait photographers like Julia Margaret Cameron, who embraced the imperfections of the medium. It invites us to consider how photography, much like painting, can be a process of both revelation and abstraction.