Portret moeder met kind op schoot c. 1900 - 1925

Leonard Vlaanderen made this photograph, "Portret moeder met kind op schoot," without a date. This photograph feels like it emerged from a quiet moment, captured with a gentle hand and a soft sepia tone. I imagine Vlaanderen observing this scene, perhaps a loved one, and feeling compelled to preserve the tenderness of their connection. The way the light falls, almost as if it is gently shaping the image into being, reminds me of the chiaroscuro in Baroque paintings, where light and shadow are used to create depth and mood. You can almost hear the soft murmur of the mother’s voice as she reads, and feel the child's weight on her lap, a real feeling of connection between the two. What do you think she is reading about? And how does this image communicate this simple gesture of love? The scene feels so tender, I wonder how other mother and child portraits compare? I am in love with this domestic everyday scene.