Portretten van onbekende personen c. 1910 - 1930

This photograph album of unknown people is at the Rijksmuseum, and we have no idea who made it. I am always curious when the hand of the artist is obscured, because then you are left with the art itself. The sepia tones give the whole page a uniform, dream-like quality. It is difficult to determine whether this is due to artistic intention or ageing of the materials, but the effect is beautiful. I find myself drawn to the candid nature of the photograph, “Victures d'interieur”. It’s material aspects, the textures, the folding screens, and the light filtering through the windows create a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The framing of the shot, the composition, and the subject matter, all speak to a time when photography was a relatively new and exciting medium, and when the possibilities for creative expression were just beginning to be explored. It reminds me of the work of Sophie Calle, in that both artists embrace the ambiguity and multiple interpretations.