Portret van Annie en Lily Holle before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg created this small-scale photograph, "Portret van Annie en Lily Holle," capturing two women in an outdoor setting. The sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, softened by the diffused light, creating a gentle, almost dreamlike quality. The composition is divided into distinct horizontal bands: the dark foreground of grass leads to the figures of Annie and Lily, dressed in light-colored gowns, set against a backdrop of lush greenery and the blurred facade of a building. The placement of the women, close together and centrally located, emphasizes their relationship, underscored by their mirroring poses. The limited tonal range reduces details to simple forms. The photograph's strength lies in its ability to convey a mood through the interplay of light and shadow. Van den Berg uses the formal constraints of photography to capture a moment, hinting at the social codes and the aesthetic preferences of its time. Rather than a precise record, this image serves as an exploration into capturing an atmosphere.