Hendrikje Nunspeet sept. 1897 1897 - 1899

Editor: This is "Hendrikje Nunspeet sept. 1897," a photograph by Gerardus Aalbersberg. There's such stillness in it; the way she's posed makes it feel timeless. What really strikes me is her expression—sort of a melancholic strength. What do you see when you look at this, professor? Curator: Ah, yes, she does seem caught between worlds, doesn’t she? Aalbersberg was playing with something quite radical then: he gives us a woman in traditional garb, situated quite firmly in her time, her place...and yet, the *way* he shoots… that soft focus, the almost painterly quality...it's as if he's trying to capture not just *who* she is, but *how* she *feels.* The pictorialist influence elevates a simple portrait, and I think he wants us to consider her individual experience more than the representation of the region or custom. What kind of story do you imagine is going on inside of her? Editor: It feels like she has a deep well of wisdom, or perhaps just quiet contemplation, even though she looks quite young. There is something profound about the simplicity of the image and the expression of the subject that really allows you to meditate on the inner life of the figure. Curator: Exactly! Photography was supposed to capture the truth – but what IS truth? That interplay – between what we see and what we feel, and how photography can play with that tension - that's what really sings to me here. It hints at how a simple portrait can capture layers and layers of significance. Editor: This conversation has definitely made me rethink my first impressions about portraits. Thanks for opening my eyes to all the depths this image contains! Curator: My pleasure, this kind of careful look is why museums exist.