Portret van Adeline Montpellier-van den Berghe met mantel en hoed 1861 - 1870

Editor: Here we have a gelatin-silver print by Jules Gèruzet, taken sometime between 1861 and 1870, entitled *Portret van Adeline Montpellier-van den Berghe met mantel en hoed*, or *Portrait of Adeline Montpellier-van den Berghe with coat and hat*. It's quite striking! It almost feels like stepping back into a Jane Austen novel. What stands out to you the most in this image? Curator: Isn't it fascinating? It makes you wonder what secrets are held in the slight smile. For me, it's the layering of textures – the velvet of the coat against the stark backdrop and column—conjuring thoughts of hidden rooms and whispered conversations. Look at how her posture and attire almost demand an engagement with the world around her, even whilst captured within a still moment. It invites such a contemplative mood, wouldn’t you say? Do you get that feeling, too, of a world on the cusp of major change? Editor: I agree, there is definitely a palpable sense of formality. Also, a sense of Romanticism from a bygone era seems frozen in this portrait. Did the use of a column during this period signify a certain societal status? Curator: It very well could. Placing a column alongside her makes me feel she might be compared to classical ideals or trying to invoke timeless beauty. And it has me wondering, was this Adeline’s choice or the photographer's artistic interpretation? Every little detail in this piece has some layer of intrigue and symbolism. Editor: It’s amazing how much a seemingly simple photograph can hold. Thank you for opening my eyes to what I didn't quite see. Curator: My pleasure! It's conversations like these that breathe new life into old images.