Portret van een kind, zittend op stoel met koffer 1874 - 1900

This carte de visite, or visiting card, is a photograph by Cornelis Bernardus Broersma. It captures a child seated on a fringed chair with a small suitcase. The sepia tone suffuses the image with a soft, uniform light, emphasizing texture and form. The composition is dominated by the oval frame, which isolates the subject and concentrates our attention. Within this frame, the child's figure, dressed in light-colored clothing, stands out against the darker backdrop. The chair and suitcase offer a structured base, grounding the otherwise ephemeral quality of the photograph. What is striking here is the way Broersma uses this formal arrangement to frame a meditation on childhood and representation. The child's direct gaze challenges the viewer, disrupting the conventional passivity often associated with portraiture of the time. The use of the suitcase introduces a narrative element, hinting at themes of travel and transition. It is not merely a representation of a child, but an exploration of identity.