Portret van Trijntje Visser 1910

Johannes Laurens Theodorus Huijsen created this portrait of Trijntje Visser, using what appears to be a photographic process, but the magic is how it captures the stillness. The artist is dealing with grayscale tones, yet creates so much depth! It’s like he’s exploring all the subtle nuances of black and white to define form and feeling. There's a delicate balance between sharp detail and soft focus, especially in the way the girl's dress flows. The textures captured from the dark velvet on the chair to the floral arrangement on the floor hold my attention. The way her hand rests on the chair, almost like a gentle touch, creates a focal point within the composition. I can't help but think about how photographers like Julia Margaret Cameron would use soft focus and unconventional techniques to pursue psychological depths in their work, even in their commercial portraits. All art is in conversation, and maybe Huijsen was in dialogue with her, too.