Portret van drie onbekende kinderen 1897 - 1920

This small photograph shows three children, and was made by Evert Rabbers. It's hard to put my finger on the date exactly, but something about this arrangement feels very formal and old-fashioned. The tonal range is very narrow; there’s an almost chalky quality to the image. This makes me look closer, as if I’m trying to decipher a faded memory. The children’s eyes are piercing, demanding my attention. Look how Rabbers used soft focus, which almost feels like a filter today, to smooth their features and give them an ethereal glow. The youngest child in the chair is wearing a bracelet, which makes me wonder about the circumstances of the photo. What was the occasion? The slight overexposure adds a layer of mystery, making me question what else is hidden beyond the frame. I find a similar approach to portraiture in the work of Gertrude Käsebier, who, like Rabbers, captured intimate moments with a soft, dreamlike quality, elevating the everyday to something timeless and profound. Ultimately, both of their images invite us to pause and contemplate the fleeting nature of childhood and memory.