Portret van een onbekende staande vrouw in japon, Soerabaja 1895 - 1915

Editor: Here we have a striking photograph, titled "Portret van een onbekende staande vrouw in japon, Soerabaja" - or, Portrait of an unknown standing woman in dress, Soerabaja - captured sometime between 1895 and 1915, attributed to Onnes Kurkdjian. The image has an elegant stillness about it, like a held breath. What nuances do you perceive in this work? Curator: Ah, yes! There's a certain reserved poise about her, isn't there? Considering the period and location - Soerabaja, now Surabaya, Indonesia - we're likely looking at a woman from the Dutch colonial elite or perhaps a wealthy Indo-European family. Look closely at the dress - that's not your everyday frock. And her gaze, slightly averted... I wonder, is she presenting herself or is she concealing something? What stories might this single frame contain, do you think? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the dress as being a signifier of status, I was too caught up in the subject's expression. The averted gaze you mention - I agree, it adds an intriguing layer of mystery. Almost like she doesn't want to be perceived a certain way. Curator: Exactly! It is precisely that delicate balance, between display and concealment, that breathes life into a portrait. Think about it - every carefully chosen accessory, the photographer's direction...all working to curate a version of reality, wouldn't you say? Almost like posing for social media, in a way. Editor: I never thought of it that way! That definitely opens a new perspective on photography and portraiture of this period. So, it's not just about documentation but more of a collaborative dance between the subject and the photographer? Curator: A dance indeed! Or, maybe even a tango, where intent, chance and interpretation all play their parts. These photographs are documents, of course, but also echoes of deeply human interactions and desires. Food for thought, eh? Editor: Absolutely! This photograph suddenly seems less like a static image and more like a frozen conversation. Thanks for shedding light on it.