Portret van prinses Juliana op een kar achter een speelgoedpaard c. 1913 - 1915

This photograph of Princess Juliana with her toy horse, was captured by Herman Deutmann at an unknown date. Look at the way Deutmann uses light and shadow; the princess is well-lit, drawing our attention, while the background swirls with soft, cloudy greys. It’s a straightforward scene, but something about the grainy texture of the photograph gives it a melancholic feel. The surface has this slightly faded, dreamlike quality. The horse itself is almost comical with its stiff legs and fixed expression. I’m drawn to the details, like the intricate harness and the perfectly placed wheels of the cart. It makes me think about how photographs, like paintings, are full of choices. Every detail is carefully arranged, and every shadow is deliberately cast. It’s this interplay of light and form that gives the photograph its unique visual language. Deutmann’s work reminds me a little of the staged portraits of Julia Margaret Cameron, where the imperfections and the hand of the artist are so present. There is always an open invitation to interpret the scene.