Portret van een baby op een stoel c. 1904 - 1920

This photograph, “Portret van een baby op een stoel,” was taken by Emile Muns. It’s a small, intimate scene rendered in tones of sepia. It has a tactile quality, even though the image is flat, there’s a softness in the way the light wraps around the baby’s chubby limbs. The composition is simple. The baby reclines in a plush chair, its gaze meeting ours with a mixture of curiosity and indifference. Look closely at the edges, the way the photograph fades into shadow, blurring the line between figure and ground. There’s a sense of quiet contemplation. Photography is really about capturing a moment in time. Muns creates an intimate portrait that speaks to the fleeting nature of childhood. It reminds me a little of Julia Margaret Cameron, another photographer who wasn't afraid to embrace the imperfections and accidents of the process. Ultimately it makes you consider the beauty and vulnerability inherent in the human condition.