Portret van een jongen en meisje, aangeduid als Aatje en Liesje v. Son Possibly 1902 - 1917

Editor: This photograph, "Portret van een jongen en meisje, aangeduid als Aatje en Liesje v. Son," made by Gebroeders Cordes sometime between 1902 and 1917, is printed with gelatin silver. There's something so staged and formal about it, yet still, the expressions on the children's faces seem so…natural. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Natural, you say? That’s a good jumping-off point! For me, it’s about that very tension. Look at the stiff backdrop, the toy sailboat – props, almost. Then you see the children’s eyes. They’re *there*. Do you feel a sense of timelessness despite its apparent age? Perhaps it’s how it echoes old master portraiture. It has the air of a Dutch Golden Age painting. Editor: Definitely, it's very painterly in a way. But does knowing it's photography change how we view the 'realism' aspect? Curator: Absolutely! The "real" clashes with the artificial – isn’t that what life’s often like? Perhaps they were mirroring the style, aiming to mimic wealth and status, while grounding it with authentic emotion? That little boat probably tells us something too, doesn't it? A shared object for brother and sister, hinting at their life and connection, beyond the still formality. I wonder about the location, the story...what do you think? Editor: I hadn’t considered the personal story so deeply, especially behind a formal piece like this. That sailboat probably had a grand life! Curator: Exactly! The smallest details are key. It brings them to life, makes it a living piece.