Fotoreproductie van een gefotografeerd portret van Ottie Holle before 1894

This is a photographic reproduction of a portrait of Ottie Holle, captured by Hendrik Herman van den Berg. The sepia tones immediately evoke a sense of nostalgia. The composition is structured around the juxtaposition of two figures: a young girl and her doll. Note how the vertical lines of their bodies create a stable, almost symmetrical arrangement, while the subtle differences in their attire and expressions introduce a dynamic tension. The girl's gaze, slightly off-center, draws us into a psychological space. The doll, positioned to her right, mirrors her form. The backdrop, an artificial landscape, enhances the staged quality of the photograph. This self-conscious construction of the image invites us to consider photography not merely as documentation but as a deliberate act of representation. It presents a curated version of reality, one that engages with themes of identity, childhood, and the gaze. Consider how the interplay of these formal elements—line, composition, and setting—contributes to a complex interplay.