Twee jonge vrouwen in ondergoed verschuilen zich achter gordijnen 1898

This intriguing stereo card photograph by A.S. Campbell features two young women partially concealed behind draped curtains. The curtain itself is a potent symbol here, functioning as both a barrier and a veil, inviting curiosity even as it obscures. Throughout art history, the motif of the curtain appears in various guises—from classical depictions of modesty, to symbols of revelation or deception. Consider, for instance, the veiling of statues in antiquity, a gesture that both protected and imbued them with a sense of sacred mystery. In contrast, think of how Renaissance painters used curtains to suggest hidden truths and psychological depths. Here, the curtain’s role is more ambiguous. Are the women hiding from the viewer, or playfully inviting us to look? The ambiguity speaks to a timeless fascination with the interplay between concealment and exposure, playing with the collective memory and subconscious desires that have fueled artistic expression across time.