Portret van twee onbekende vrouwen 1855 - 1870

Editor: Here we have an intriguing gelatin-silver print from between 1855 and 1870, titled "Portret van twee onbekende vrouwen"—"Portrait of two unknown women." It’s a compelling image, but also a bit somber, don't you think? The women's expressions seem quite serious. What's your read on this, how do you interpret this work? Curator: Somber is one word, perhaps wistful too. I see in their gaze not just gravity but a kind of… waiting. These photographic portraits from the mid-19th century—they’re so interesting because they’re holding onto the romance of painting while simultaneously embracing the cold, hard truth of the lens. Imagine sitting for a portrait in those days! You'd have to be perfectly still for ages; can you imagine the discomfort, and also the weight of the occasion, to freeze oneself in time for generations to come? Editor: Absolutely, and that's probably the solemn expressions! Curator: Likely, but think, too, of all the societal constraints of the time— the clothing, the gender roles. Who were they? Were they sisters, friends, or perhaps a governess and her charge? Why did they take this photograph together? Perhaps, and this is just a flight of fancy, they longed for something more, a different kind of portrait that truly captured their spirit. What secrets are captured forever? I think every portrait, but especially early photographic portraits, invite such stories. Editor: So the photographic process, in a way, immortalizes their feelings? Curator: Precisely. They are not merely posing; they are being. It makes me wonder who will be viewing their photograph a hundred and fifty years in the future. That would be us! Editor: I will never look at photography the same way again, now that is really compelling. Curator: Me neither, thank you.