Portret van Irene With-Sauer 1920 - 1930

This small, undated portrait of Irene With-Sauer, currently residing at the Rijksmuseum, feels incredibly intimate. It's like stumbling upon a forgotten photograph in an old album, isn’t it? I can’t help but wonder about the anonymous artist and their relationship with Irene. Was it a commission, or a heartfelt gift? The soft, muted tones give the portrait a timeless quality, almost dreamlike, as if lifted from memory. The eyes, though, they're so full of something. Is it longing, curiosity, or perhaps a touch of melancholy? The way she gazes off to the side makes me think of someone caught between worlds, lost in thought. It reminds me of some of those early photographic portraits by Julia Margaret Cameron, where the imperfections and blurriness only add to the raw emotion. It’s a testament to the power of portraiture, how a single image can capture a person's essence, leaving us with more questions than answers.