Portret van een onbekende vrouw met hoed en handschoenen in haar hand c. 1865 - 1900

This is a portrait of an unknown woman with hat and gloves by Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn. Immediately striking is the arrangement. The composition, with its juxtaposition of the woman, the chair, and the textured backdrop, flattens the perspective, drawing our attention to the surface. The negative space around the window creates a frame within a frame. The high contrast intensifies the tonal range, turning highlights into stark white and shadows into deep blacks. The texture plays an important role here. The rugged wall behind the sitter is offset by the smoothness of her coat, while the ornate details of the chair contrast with the plain geometry of the window. These conflicting textures underscore the photograph's formal structure. The way Kleijn has captured the interplay of light and shadow, emphasizes form and materiality, making us rethink our usual modes of seeing. The photograph thus invites a deeper understanding of how visual elements create meaning and affect our perception.