Portret van een jonge vrouw 1890 - 1931

Klaas Schotsman made this portrait of a young woman without a date listed, yet I imagine it was created with the patience and precision of a bygone era, where portraits were cherished keepsakes. What was it like to capture a likeness with such care? You can sense that Schotsman worked slowly, building up the tones in layers, trying to find the perfect light on the subject’s face, and working to subtly reveal her character. The muted palette adds to the sense of intimacy, drawing you closer to observe her. The framing reminds me of someone leafing through an old photo album. I think about all the portraits I've seen and made, of people trying to capture someone or someones attention, reaching across time. Maybe Schotsman also found inspiration from the other painters of his generation, joining an ongoing conversation about how we see each other.