Portret van Netta Bergsma als kind in pofbroek in een tuin op Sumatra 1926

This photograph shows a young girl named Netta Bergsma in bloomers, taken sometime in 1926 in Sumatra. I can imagine the photographer behind the lens, framing the shot, coaxing Netta into just the right pose under the humid, dappled light. What were they thinking as they captured this moment? Were they aware of the historical weight of their actions, or were they simply trying to capture a fleeting moment of childhood innocence? I wonder about the texture of the grass beneath Netta’s bare feet, the way the humid air felt on her skin. I can see the way the sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a soft, diffused light that bathes the scene in a hazy glow. It’s like a painting in grayscale, where the shadows create soft lines that trace the forms of the girl and her surroundings. Photography, like painting, is a conversation across time, where artists borrow, steal, and riff off of one another's ideas. Each new work builds upon what came before, creating a rich and ever-evolving tapestry of creativity.