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

This photograph, taken in March 1926, captures Netta Bergsma as a child in a garden on Sumatra, with an anonymous hand behind the lens. The stark black and white tones give it a timeless feel, but it's the texture that grabs me – that soft, slightly blurred focus. There’s a vulnerability in her pose. Her dress is almost sculptural, standing out in stark contrast to the muted tones of the foliage, and it's hard not to see it as a formal experiment on behalf of the photographer. You know, this reminds me a little of some of Sally Mann’s photographs of her children, capturing that raw, unfiltered moment of childhood. Both artists embrace the accidental, finding beauty in the unposed and imperfect. The charm of this piece lies in its simplicity and openness, inviting us to bring our own stories and interpretations.