Portret van twee meisjes, aangeduid als Cecile en Marietje c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph by Woodbury & Page captures two young girls, likely named Cecile and Marietje. The innocence and purity typically associated with childhood are symbolized by their matching white dresses, echoing the tradition of dressing children in white for baptisms or first communions. The chair here acts as a throne, elevating the sitters. A similar motif of the enthroned child can be traced back to images of the infant Christ held by the Virgin Mary, in turn mirroring the Roman imperial imagery of power and authority. Observe the girls' expressions, though; a serious almost melancholic gaze that contrasts with the light playfulness of their attire. These expressions evoke feelings of nostalgia, a longing for a past and lost innocence, a theme that resonates across cultural and temporal boundaries. This subtle tension reminds us that even in the most seemingly straightforward images, complex emotions are at play.