Portret van een onbekend meisje met hoed en handmof 1900 - 1915

This small photograph of an unknown girl in a big hat was made by Theodor Liebert. Looking at it, I'm drawn to the soft grays and the way the light seems to dissolve the edges of everything. It's like a memory, a little hazy and dreamlike. The girl is dressed in her finest, but there's a sadness in her eyes, maybe a quiet boredom. I love the way the photographer has used the backdrop to create a sense of depth, even though it’s just a painted scene. The surface of the print is smooth, almost silvery. You can see the tiny imperfections, the little scratches and spots that give it a history, a life of its own. That dark smudge just above her hat adds a layer of mystery. This portrait reminds me a little of the work of Eugène Atget, the way he captured the everyday life of Paris with such tenderness and melancholy. Both artists seem to find beauty in the ordinary, in the fleeting moments that might otherwise be forgotten. And, like all great art, it leaves you with more questions than answers.