Willy Onnen en Abraham Dudok van Heel c. 1917

Here we have a vintage photograph by Carolina (Loentje) Frederika Onnen, depicting Willy Onnen and Abraham Dudok van Heel. The sepia tone gives it such an antique feel, like a memory fading into a dream. The texture of the photograph itself is really interesting. It's got this subtle graininess, like the image is made of tiny little dots, which contributes to its dreamy quality. And the way the light falls, it's almost like the figures are emerging from the shadows, caught in a moment of stillness. I keep coming back to the composition, this cropped oval shape somehow intensifies the focus on the couple, making it feel intimate and timeless. It reminds me a bit of some of the snapshot painters like Gerhard Richter worked from, taking something everyday and transforming it into something special. There is such an ongoing conversation of ideas across time, isn't there?