Portret van Henri Ernie als kind 1850 - 1900

Editor: Here we have Marius Rouffiac's *Portret van Henri Ernie als kind*, an albumen print from sometime between 1850 and 1900. It's…stark. A young child holding a rifle, a juxtaposition that makes me a little uneasy. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Uneasy is right! That piercing gaze juxtaposed with the child’s garb and that rifle...it's intentionally unsettling. You know, those 19th-century photographers, they were almost painting with light and chemicals. I see here a story Rouffiac is crafting, beyond just capturing a likeness. Editor: A story? What kind of story do you imagine? Curator: Well, think of it: genre painting meets stark reality. Is it about lost innocence? Perhaps the family was preparing the boy for the harsh realities of the time? Or, maybe Rouffiac was subtly critiquing the romanticization of conflict. He is intentionally composing this photograph using carefully posed props for desired impact. Notice that his face doesn't show even an iota of glee holding that rifle! Editor: So you think the choice of a rifle was deliberate and it wasn’t like a snapshot in his backyard? Curator: Absolutely. This wasn't happenstance. That heavy rock, his clothing – all contribute. What is that speckled background… Almost looks like tears falling. All things very meticulously set. The fact that this particular medium (albumen print) was en vogue really says that he must have invested in creating this photograph! I wonder what young Henri grew up to be. Editor: It definitely gives you pause. You really changed my perception of this work! It is more complex and thoughtful than I first thought. Curator: It made *me* think as well, through the lens of our current era, whether war games for young children desensitizes their understanding of the violence around the world. These artifacts certainly open the space to reflect and contemplate!