Dubbelportret van twee kinderen, aangeduid als Fils Pauli 1854 - 1885

Louis Alessi, a photographer in Bastia, captured this double portrait of two children, likely in the late 19th century, using a now antique photographic process. The image presents two young boys, presumably brothers, dressed in the formal attire typical of the era. The older boy stands tall, exuding a sense of responsibility, while the younger one, with his coat buttoned high, looks up to his brother with a mix of affection and dependency. Their clothing, especially the older child's suit and pocket watch, speaks to a certain social class. Yet, the seemingly casual embrace, with the younger brother’s arm around the elder, humanizes the image. Alessi's photograph offers a glimpse into the rigid social structures of the time, particularly around gender and class, while also capturing the emotional bonds of brotherhood. It invites us to consider how these children navigated the expectations placed upon them, revealing the intersection of public presentation and private emotion.