Portret van M.A. van Houten als kind met krullend haar 1877 - 1950

Editor: This is a small etching, "Portret van M.A. van Houten als kind met krullend haar"—Portrait of M.A. van Houten as a child with curly hair—it's dated sometime between 1877 and 1950. I’m really drawn to the delicate lines. There's almost a melancholic quality about the child’s expression. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Oh, this little cherub! You're right, there is a stillness, isn't there? It reminds me of old family photos, where the subjects are so formally posed, almost like little adults. The artist has captured a fleeting moment, imbuing the child with a pensiveness that transcends the simple portrait. Do you get a sense of a specific era from the clothing or the hairstyle? It certainly whispers of a bygone age, doesn’t it? I wonder what M.A. van Houten went on to do... Editor: I do think the frilly collar and curls really set the scene, yes. There is a preciousness about how they depicted children. And to your question, what happened to van Houten, would this be genre painting too, something like a frozen instant from ordinary life? Curator: That’s it exactly! It’s as much a study of childhood as it is a record of an individual. Etching lends itself so well to this kind of intimate portrayal. The artist really focused on the face, which emerges softly from the shadows, no? It creates such a strong sense of light and depth with what, really, are some very simple means. And there's a tenderness there, too... do you see that in the treatment of the eyes, the soft shading? Almost like a mother’s gaze captured on paper, do you agree? Editor: Yes, I see that. It is interesting to consider the connection between artist and subject, even though it is so long ago. Curator: Absolutely. Art brings us closer to these forgotten stories, allowing us to look at people’s face with empathy, even from a different era. This little one makes us imagine the possibilities ahead!