Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1900 - 1920

This ‘Portrait of an Unknown Woman’ was made by Jac. Schotel Szn. in the early twentieth century. It’s a photograph, so it’s not a painting exactly, but I still think of it as an image made by hand. The monochrome palette is really limited, but that makes each tone sing. It’s a study in grays, and the texture of the paper really comes through. Look at the way the light falls on her face. It’s almost sculptural. The photographer used soft focus to give the image a dreamy feel, and the oval frame within the rectangular paper adds another layer of artifice. That little bow at her neck – it’s so small, but it’s perfect. It's the anchor in all that light frothy detail. I’m reminded of the portraits of Julia Margaret Cameron, where the imperfections and the process are part of the beauty. It’s not about perfection, it’s about the feeling. It’s about creating an atmosphere, a mood. We may not know her name, but we know her.