Portret van een onbekende man c. 1900 - 1920

This small photograph captures an unknown man. It was made by Foto Rembrandt, and if you look closely, you can still see the studio's seal in the lower right corner. It’s a formal portrait. The man is dressed in a very long overcoat and is leaning against some ornate masonry. But what was Foto Rembrandt thinking when he made it? The backdrop suggests a painting, not reality, maybe this was common practice? As a painter myself, I’m always thinking about texture, color, and surface. Here, the sepia tones give the whole image a soft glow, and the contrast between the dark coat and the lighter background makes the man stand out. Artists, photographers, we’re all in conversation, building on what came before, and inspiring what comes next. Isn’t it wonderful how one image can spark so many questions and possibilities?