Portret van twee kinderen met een hoepel en een pop c. 1895 - 1915

This is an image of two kids with a hoop and a doll, made in Amsterdam by J. Siewe. I imagine Siewe, like many painters, probably started with a rough sketch, mapping out the composition. You can feel the artist working with a limited tonal range, building up layers of light and shadow to shape the figures and objects, giving them presence. I wonder if the artist was thinking about the temporality of childhood when he made it. You can really sense that these kids exist at a fleeting moment. The hoop and doll as humble and playful props, tools for the artist to explore form, texture, and the relationships between the figures. This work reminds me of other portrait artists who use composition to create a sense of intimacy. There is something so vulnerable and touching in the way he captures the essence of childhood. It feels like he’s saying, "Look closely, there’s so much here if you just take a moment".