Portret van C. de Keyser 1902 - 1905

This is Stephanus Adrianus Schotel's "Portret van C. de Keyser," most likely made with photographic emulsion on paper. It's interesting, isn't it? It's not exactly a painting but when you look at the tonal range it's a bit like a grisaille. The way the light softly defines the subject is key to this image. It's about subtleties, like the gentle fall of light on her face, or how the patterns of the dress frame her. This careful attention to detail reminds me of artists who obsessively build up layers. The light is like a painter's glaze. The overall effect is dreamy. Maybe that's the sepia tone. It invites us to imagine who this person was and what her story might be. Photographers like Schotel had an acute awareness of color, even though they were working in monochrome. They were always trying to push the boundaries of the medium. Maybe this piece speaks to the ongoing conversation between photography and painting!