Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1900 - 1915

Fotografie Strauss, operating out of Rotterdam, made this portrait of an unknown woman using photographic methods that capture a world of subtle gradations. The image lives in a world of blacks, whites, and greys, much like a charcoal drawing that has been simplified to it's tonal base. Look closely, and you'll see the soft transitions, the way the light delicately models her face and lace collar. The process isn't hidden; it's right there in the image's texture, the gentle fall-off of light, the graininess in her hair. It makes you feel like you could step into the studio where this was taken. Notice how the light catches the left side of her face, the highlights in her hair, it gives the image an almost sculptural depth, imbuing it with a life of its own. This work reminds me a little of the portraits by Nadar, who also sought to capture the essence of the sitter, even while using mechanical means. Ultimately, it’s about embracing the unknown, seeing the beauty in imperfection, and finding poetry in the everyday.