Portret van twee jongens 1863 - 1883

This is a photograph titled 'Portret van twee jongens' by Elias Gottheil, made in an unknown year. The sepia tones and intimate scale evoke a sense of nostalgia, framing its subjects within a structured composition. Gottheil uses the formal structure of portraiture to engage with broader themes of representation. The two boys, positioned closely together, create a tightly knit structure, the older boy’s hand resting on the other’s shoulder. The curtain backdrop and their matching outfits add symmetry, yet subtle variations in their poses introduce a dynamic tension. Their outfits give us a sense of structure, echoing a military style, representative of the societal pressures placed on young boys. The sepia tone flattens the image, emphasizing surface over depth and highlighting the photograph's status as an object. This flattening aligns with formalism’s focus on the artwork's inherent properties, inviting us to consider how its visual elements create meaning. This photograph challenges fixed meanings, prompting ongoing interpretation.