Portret van een vrouw, aangeduid als Mme. Richard before 1864

Editor: Here we have a photograph, a portrait of a woman known as Madame Richard, taken before 1864 by François Théodore Wolter. It feels so… formal. Rigid, even. What captures your eye? Curator: It whispers stories of a time capsule, doesn't it? My gaze is drawn to the light, diffused and gentle, almost reverential, as it graces her face. Notice how her gaze meets ours – or maybe glances just past us? Do you think that impacts our perception? Editor: Definitely, she’s not really inviting us in. I mean, she almost looks like she is judging me… Do you get that impression? Curator: Ha! Perhaps. Or perhaps she’s simply holding herself with a composure deemed proper at the time. Her very full dress, too, speaks volumes about status and expectation. It's a far cry from the chaotic palettes and candid snapshots we are used to now. It’s also a beautiful echo of the sitters’ relationship with early photography. Do you notice the painted backdrop – she could be sitting for a painter, or walking through her garden! Editor: That makes sense, linking painting with the backdrop – it's like they are trying to imitate painting with photography! Curator: Precisely! The very *newness* of the medium invited that sort of experimentation! I wonder, how do you suppose this portrait served its purpose for Mme Richard and her family? Editor: To me, it’s like capturing a moment in time to reflect for generations, I learned something about portraits and their purpose! Curator: Indeed! A quiet, dignified reflection – a beautiful puzzle box from the past.