Portret van Charlotte Hooykaas van der Linden met haar zoon 1891 - 1922

This portrait of Charlotte Hooykaas van der Linden with her son was made by Johan Christiaan Reesinck. I’m so drawn to old photographs like this. I imagine the photographer patiently setting up, adjusting the light, and hoping the baby would stay still long enough to capture their likeness. It’s a delicate balancing act, trying to preserve a moment. There’s a tenderness in the way the mother gazes at her child. It's so interesting to try to imagine the weight of motherhood and the hopes for the future contained in that gentle glance. The sepia tones add a layer of nostalgia, reminding us that these are people from a different time, with their own stories and dreams. You can feel the connection between mother and child, a timeless bond captured in a single frame. It makes you wonder about all the other unrecorded moments, the everyday joys and struggles that make up a life. In a way this photograph preserves them all.