Man in zijn pyjama in de schommelstoel op de veranda omringd door speelgoeddieren. c. 1910

This photograph, taken in Banjoewangi in 1910 by Frits Freerks Fontein Fz., is a moment suspended between domesticity and the exotic. The sepia tones lend it a timeless feel. Look at the way the light spills onto the veranda floor, picking out the textures of the rocking chair's wooden frame, and how it defines the man's striped pyjamas. There's a sense of stillness, but also a curious energy, with the plush toys gathered at his feet – a whimsical collection of creatures, like a child's imaginary kingdom come to life. Consider the subtle tension created by the arrangement of objects. The contrast between the man and the toys is striking. It’s a bit like a stage set, inviting us to speculate about the narrative at play. Are we seeing a portrait of the artist, or of a character he has constructed? It reminds me of the paintings of Balthus, where childhood and adulthood meet. The ambiguity is key here, and it's what makes this image so compelling.