Portret van een man en een vrouw met een baby op schoot 1922 - 1977

This photograph, titled "Portret van een man en een vrouw met een baby op schoot", was taken by Ton Blom. The composition of this family portrait is remarkably structured. The subjects are neatly arranged, filling most of the frame, giving the image a sense of intimate closure. A neutral backdrop ensures that all the viewer's attention stays with the family. The father's dark suit is set against the woman's lighter-colored clothing and the baby's swathe of white fabric. The structure of the image subtly conveys societal norms. The father, positioned slightly behind, watches over the scene, while the mother and child create a focal point of nurturing. The balance and organization within the photograph speak to the constructed nature of portraiture, as well as the encoding of social values. The lack of specific dating only reinforces how it is presented and continues to be re-interpreted through a contemporary understanding.