Portret van een onbekende vrouw en een onbekende man, vermoedelijk uit of gerelateerd aan de familie Marmelstein c. 1891 - 1930

This photograph of an unknown woman and man was probably made with a large format camera, which would have been common for portraiture at the time. I'm struck by the monochromatic palette of the piece, which creates a sense of timelessness. The subtle gradations of tone are really what bring it to life. Look at the way the light falls on the man’s jacket, creating a soft sheen and texture, and then observe the woman’s dark dress, almost velvety with a subtle hint of highlight. It's a reminder that even within a restricted palette, there’s a whole world of tonal variation to explore. I'm also drawn to the background, which is slightly blurred, almost like a painting. It’s reminiscent of the soft-focus style of Pictorialist photography, so it is an ongoing conversation between photography and painting. These conversations encourage me to think about the ways images can be manipulated to create different effects and interpretations. The photograph is an ongoing exchange of ideas across time.