Else Wachenheimer-Moos als jonge vrouw, met opgestoken haar en getailleerde jas en lange donkere kleding, leunend met haar elleboog op een kastje en haar andere hand steunend op dat kastje 1911 - 1926

This portrait of Else Wachenheimer-Moos was made by Gebr. Martin as a mounted photograph on card, a popular process for portraiture in the late 19th Century. I love the sepia tone, which feels like a filter of time, muting the colors, making the image feel both present and distant. Look at the way the light falls on Else’s face, how the light is caught in the soft curves of her cheek and brow. The textures are amazing, from the smooth drape of the curtain behind her to the sharp details of the buttons on her jacket and the carved details of the cabinet she leans on. The image is so well composed. The way the photographer captures her leaning on the cabinet, with her hand gently supporting her chin, it gives her a thoughtful and confident air. This portrait reminds me of the work of Nadar, the great French photographer, especially in the way he captured the personalities of his sitters. There's a sense of quiet dignity, which speaks to the power of photography as a means of immortalizing a moment, a feeling, and a person.