Portret van een zittend meisje en een staande jongen 1900 - 1905

This vintage photograph captures a sister and brother, posed formally in what must have been a studio. I love to imagine the photographer here, positioning them just so. In this small sepia-toned print, what strikes me most is the gesture of the boy’s hand, resting ever so slightly on his sister’s shoulder. You wonder what’s going through their minds. Is this a normal day for them? As a painter, I think a lot about touch – the way a brush meets the canvas, the pressure, the intention. The photographer has a different kind of touch, capturing a moment that speaks to a relationship. It's like they’re saying, "Here we are, in this moment, connected." It's a reminder that all art, whether painting or photography, is about communication and human connection. The artist is always in conversation with their materials, and with the world.