Portret van een onbekende vrouw before 1903

This photograph is by Fritz Loescher and features a portrait of an unknown woman, it's printed on a page in a book. You can see the other side of the page through the image, a reminder of the material realness of the photograph as a document. The picture is mostly tones of grey, but there are many subtle variations, it is so easy to get lost in all those shades. The woman is in a long dress and is standing next to what seems like a small table with flowers. Her face is turned toward the flowers and she has her hand resting on the table. This simple gesture evokes a sense of melancholic reflection. This photograph really reminds me of the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, who was also interested in depicting women in a soft and painterly way. Both artists are interested in the way that photography can be used to create a sense of intimacy and emotion. Ultimately, both artists show how photography doesn't have to capture the world exactly as it is, but can instead create its own, unique reality.