Portret van een vrouw met opgestoken haar en een broche c. 1895 - 1908

This portrait of a woman with her hair up, and a brooch, was made with photography by E. v.d. Kerkhoff. What strikes me is the light. It's not just light, it's light hitting surface, texture, and the mood that surfaces create. Look closely and you will see, the light is almost palpable, like you could reach out and touch it. What I love about this piece is its subtlety; the restrained palette creates a gentle and intimate experience. The slightly mottled surface makes me think about the passing of time, the beauty of something which has been handled and cherished. This piece feels like it belongs in conversation with the work of other photographers of the time, like Julia Margaret Cameron, who were also interested in the expressive potential of the medium. It’s a reminder that art is always an ongoing dialogue, a conversation across time and space.