Portret van een onbekende jongen en meisje 1906 - 1909

This is a photograph of an unknown young boy and girl, created by Stephanus Adrianus Schotel. It is enclosed in a frame with an apex. The sepia tones used here give the image a warmth. The photograph is encased in an oval shape which softens the composition. Notice how the vertical lines of the trees are mirrored in the striped pattern of the girl’s dress. This repetition of verticality adds a sense of height and formality. The composition is carefully balanced, with the figures positioned slightly off-center, creating a dynamic visual tension. The choice of sepia as a medium flattens the depth of the image, emphasizing surface and texture over illusionistic depth. By reducing the chromatic range, the image invites us to consider form and structure. It creates an image of two people, but also a study in tones, textures, and geometrical composition.