Portret van een onbekende vrouw, lezend bij het raam before 1903

H.M. Carstensen created this photograph of a woman reading by the window; it has a quiet domestic feel, don't you think? The composition focuses on an intimate scene, bathed in soft, natural light filtering through the window. I imagine Carstensen carefully choosing the angle, waiting for the right moment to capture the light just so. What was she reading, I wonder? The way the light gently illuminates her face makes me think about the simple pleasures of everyday life. It reminds me a bit of Vilhelm Hammershøi's interiors, where quiet moments are charged with emotion and meaning. The light on her hands holding the book, the angle of her concentration. These images speak across time, inviting us to slow down and reflect. It is a reminder that art can find beauty in the most ordinary of moments, transforming them into something special.