Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1890 - 1918

This is 'Portrait of an Unknown Woman' by Jan Siewers. The sepia tones of the photographic print give this woman a timeless quality. It’s interesting to think about Siewers capturing her image. Was it a formal commission, or a more personal endeavor? What was it like for her, sitting there, trying to hold still, imagining her likeness being transferred onto paper? Her gaze is direct, almost challenging. The pearls and dress decorations suggest a certain status, but her expression hints at something more complex, more intimate. It’s like she’s caught between presenting herself and revealing something deeper. In that sense, it reminds me of how we, as artists, often grapple with representation, trying to capture not just what we see, but what we feel and understand about the world. And about ourselves, of course.