Portret van Dirkje ten Have Possibly 1916

This small photograph captures a sitter named Dirkje ten Have. We don't know when it was made, or by whom. I like to imagine the artist's hand hovering over the scene, deciding when to press the button, what to include, what to leave out. It's interesting to think about all the decision-making that goes into portraiture, especially when the artist is unknown. They must have spent time considering how to frame her face, and how to balance light and shadow. I wonder if they were hoping to capture Dirkje's personality, or simply create a record of her appearance at that moment in time? These early photographic processes are so fascinating to me. It makes you realize how much effort and consideration went into creating a single image. It's a reminder that artists throughout history are in constant conversation with one another.