Portret van een meisje en een baby 1880 - 1886

This is August Rino’s photographic portrait of a girl and a baby. Two children are united in a tender embrace. The girl looks towards the camera, while the baby's gaze is directed to the left, away from the viewer. A similar motif of maternal affection has appeared throughout art history. It's an echo of the Virgin and Child, a timeless image of love, protection and care. The clasped hands holding the baby remind us of other artistic depictions. Consider the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck. In that artwork, clasped hands symbolize a solemn vow, fidelity and unity. In the photograph the gesture speaks more to familial affection. It binds the children together in a web of shared love. The image, with its candid arrangement, is engaging on a deeply subconscious level. We see the timeless cycle of protection and the ties that bind families together. The image resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.