Portret van vermoedelijk een moeder met haar twee kinderen Possibly 1903 - 1928

This family portrait, likely of a mother and her two children, was made at some point by Koene & Co. I can imagine this artist working in a studio with natural light, carefully arranging his subjects for the camera, and delicately manipulating the chemical processes to bring the image to life. It makes me wonder about the relationship between the artist and his subjects, and how they negotiated the power dynamics inherent in the act of portraiture. Looking at this sepia-toned photograph, the muted tones and soft focus create an ethereal atmosphere, blurring the line between reality and memory. The careful composition and posed expressions remind me of classical painting, but the photographic medium introduces a modern sensibility. It seems like a conversation between different eras and ways of seeing, inviting me to contemplate the ever-evolving nature of art and representation. It’s like artists are always riffing off each other, creating something new from what came before.