Portret van majoor R.J. van Moock before 1906

This faded photograph of Major R.J. van Moock is one of many portraits from a Cadetten Album. Imagine the act of taking a photograph back then. It wasn't like today. It took time and demanded real presence from both the photographer and the sitter. I wonder what the Major was thinking as he stood there, so still, in his uniform. Did he feel proud, stoic, or maybe a little impatient? Look at the soft gradations of light and shadow that define his face. The photographer carefully built up tones to give a sense of depth and character, capturing not just his likeness but something of his inner self. Photography, like painting, invites us into a dialogue with the past, with the artist, and with ourselves. This is just one tiny fragment of a much larger conversation. It captures a moment, but it also opens up a whole world of possibilities. It leaves room for us to see something new each time.