Portret van twee onbekende jongens 1897 - 1914

Willem Hendrik Dikkenberg made this portrait of two unknown boys, probably in his studio in Haarlem, using photographic methods that were common at the time. The sepia tones give the image a timeless quality, like a memory fading at the edges. Look at the way the light softens the boys' faces, almost blurring the line between the figures and the background. The surface of the print is smooth, with just a hint of texture that adds to its antique charm. The edges of the card are slightly worn, a testament to the passage of time and the many hands that may have held it. This reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter's blurred portraits. Both artists use a kind of soft focus to create a sense of distance and mystery. In the end, art isn't about capturing a perfect likeness, but about inviting us to reflect on the nature of memory and representation itself.