Portret van een staande dienstbode met witte hoed, vlinderstrik en schort bij een stoel 1887 - 1940

This photograph of a standing maid in a white hat, bow tie, and apron by E. v.d. Kerkhoff shows an eye for capturing the details of ordinary life. The limited palette focuses our attention on the textures and shapes of the subject. Looking at the maid’s uniform, I notice how the folds in her apron contrast with the smooth surface of her dark jacket, and this contrast gives a tactile feel to the image. The surface is simple, almost unassuming, but it captures the light in such a way that the image feels both immediate and intimate. The way she leans on the chair, almost as if she were posing, makes me think of Degas. The framing gives a glimpse into another time and place, but its open-endedness invites the viewer to bring their own perspective. Like a half-finished story, it captures a fleeting moment.