Portret van een onbekende man c. 1905 - 1915

This small portrait of an unknown man was produced by the Cordes brothers. It’s an albumen print, which was very popular in the 19th century. Looking at the image, I wonder about the sitter, the unknown man. He stares directly out at us, his expression enigmatic. What was he thinking? What was his life like? Did he ever imagine that we would be looking back at him now? This image, with its sepia tones and delicate details, reminds me of the way that painters work, building up layers of color and texture to create a likeness. Even though photography and painting are different mediums, they share a common goal: to capture a moment in time and preserve it for posterity. In a way, all artists are in conversation with one another across time, and this small portrait is a reminder of the enduring power of art to connect us to the past.