Portret van twee onbekende jongens, mogelijk Simon en Andries Kramer 1900 - 1910

This photograph of two young boys, possibly Simon and Andries Kramer, was taken by Johannes Laurens Theodorus Huijsen. It’s so small, like a little window into another world. I imagine Huijsen setting up his camera, maybe feeling the pressure to capture the boys just right. The tonal range is so beautiful, so subtle, almost like he painted with light and shadow. Look at how their outfits speak to the formality of the time, and how the hats give another insight into what it meant to be them, then. Think about what Huijsen was trying to convey. Was it about preserving a moment, or was he digging for something deeper? Maybe he was trying to say something about brotherhood, or just about growing up. These guys feel like they could step out of the picture and start talking.