Portret van een meisje en een jongen zittend op een kruk 1880 - 1910

Roelof Pieters Lammers captured this portrait of a girl and boy with photography. The sepia tones lend a warm yet faded quality, enhancing the texture of the clothing and the subtle gradations of light and shadow. The composition focuses on the subjects' arrangement within the frame. The girl stands, while the boy sits on a stool, creating a dynamic interplay of levels and forms. Their proximity and the boy’s arm around the girl invite questions about their relationship. This staged symmetry is disrupted by the children's individual expressions, adding layers to the narrative. The formal composition is a product of its time, yet, the expressions subtly challenge fixed meanings and power dynamics. This photograph invites us to consider the layers of formal presentation and individual expression.