Portret van een baby op een stoel c. 1890 - 1910

Willem Gerhardus Kuijer captured this small photograph of a baby seated on a chair. The child, dressed in white, sits regally, almost mirroring depictions of infant deities or royal heirs in earlier paintings. Consider the chair itself: adorned with tassels, it elevates the child, imbuing the scene with a sense of importance. This echoes the tradition of placing infants on thrones in religious art, symbolizing purity and divinity. Think of images of the Madonna and Child throughout the Renaissance, where Mary is often seated on a throne, emphasizing her divine status as the Mother of God. This photograph taps into our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions associated with innocence, vulnerability, and the future. The child's solemn gaze engages us, inviting contemplation on the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. Like a sacred icon, this image transcends its immediate context, resonating with enduring human themes.