Portret van Neeltje van Ammers 1908 - 1915

This is J. Huijsen's portrait of Neeltje van Ammers. Look at the way the image seems to emerge from a soft cloud, a gentle gradient that brings Neeltje into focus. There's a process here of building up the image, layer by layer, like a memory forming. I’m drawn to the delicate balance between the sharp details of her face and the diffused edges of her clothing. The lace at her neck is rendered with such fine detail, it feels almost tangible, while the darker material of her coat melts into the background. There's a tension between clarity and ambiguity, a push and pull that keeps the eye moving. Huijsen shares something with Nadar. They both seem to revel in the play of light and shadow, using the camera to explore the depths of human character. And just like Nadar, Huijsen reminds us that art is as much about what we don't see as what we do.