Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1903

This small portrait of an unknown woman was made by Cornelius Antonius Gerardus Leijenaar, but we don’t know when. The sepia tones and oval frame give it a sense of timelessness, or maybe that’s just the passage of time itself. I find myself drawn to the subtleties of the sepia wash, like a watercolor that’s been left out in the sun, faded but warm. It's this limited palette that creates the mood of quiet reflection. Look closely and you can see how the tones define the planes of her face, the gentle curve of her cheek, the soft shadows around her eyes. And then there’s the paper itself. Notice the tiny flecks and imperfections, the way it's aged, bringing its own history. Like a drawing by Manet or Degas, the focus isn’t on capturing every detail, but more about evoking a feeling, a sense of presence. Art doesn't have to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices speak the loudest.