Portret van Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong 1933 - 1936

This photograph of Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong, probably taken mid-century, has a casual elegance, doesn’t it? The gray scale is what makes me think about painting. The way a painter might be trying to reduce color, look for the values, the darks and lights. Look at the range of grays, how subtle they are. The way the light falls across her dress, creating a soft gradation from shadow to highlight. Or the way the background melts into a blurry darkness, punctuated by the shapes of vases. The contrast is soft, without any deep blacks and this feels very gentle. And then there’s that bouquet she’s holding. It's a burst of light and texture. In the middle of the range of grays, this area has so much activity. I think it’s quite close to the way Fairfield Porter’s photographs influenced his paintings, they are full of that same sort of casual elegance. It is this simplicity that invites multiple readings, allowing us to engage with the image on both an aesthetic and emotional level.