Portret van een onbekende vrouw op een stoel before 1942

This portrait of an unknown woman, made with photography by Zacharias Fraenkel, gives me a sense of old processes. Look at how the light falls on her face. Fraenkel coaxes out a full range of tones from black to white. It's as if he is mixing shades of gray with light, building out a form slowly. See how the soft gradation around her cheek gives way to the harsher shadow of her dress. I love this push and pull between softness and contrast. The woman’s gaze seems to hold both shyness and a sort of quiet power. Her bow, the high collar, these small details are sharp. Perhaps Fraenkel was inspired by someone like Julia Margaret Cameron, also known for her portraits which explored the potential of light and shadow. It's all about the process, the act of seeing, and the stories that emerge from that exchange.