Prins Hendrik met op schoot prinses Juliana 1911

This photo, made by Guy de Coral & Co., captures Prince Hendrik holding Princess Juliana, and you can see the process of creating it frozen in time. It’s like a painting in grayscale, the tones carefully considered. Look at the way the light catches the Prince’s suit, turning it almost silver, while his face has a deep, matte quality. The texture in the room, from the shiny plant pot to the wall hanging behind, have a sculptural feel. It's almost as if Coral & Co are sculpting with light. This really shapes the mood, doesn't it? It’s so formal, yet the baby’s chubby cheeks hint at something softer. The dark shadows around the Prince’s feet ground him, literally and figuratively, and they connect the space around him. It reminds me a little of August Sander’s portraits, this idea of freezing a moment to represent something universal. Ultimately, art invites us to see things in different ways, to find new meanings in everyday moments.