Drie portretten van vrouwen, onder wie Marcelle André en Jane Hading 1900 - 1930

This is a set of three portraits of women, including Marcelle André and Jane Hading, by Ch. Reutlinger. It's hard to say when exactly it was made, but Reutlinger was active in the 19th century. I'm thinking about the artist making this work: what was it like to be a portrait photographer? How do you set up the scene? The women are arranged in elaborate outfits, each looking off to the side. The monochrome palette gives an antique sensibility to the image, with a range of tonal subtleties, from bright whites to deep blacks. The contrast gives the work dynamism. It's interesting to consider how these women were performing for the camera, and what the image meant for them, and for Reutlinger. There's a sense of collaboration here, where each informs the other. It reminds me of how painters across generations play off each other, in an ongoing conversation of images.