Portret van Dootje 1934 - 1935

This tiny black and white photograph, “Portret van Dootje”, was made by an anonymous artist, sometime in the past. I love how the artist embraced the inherent qualities of photography. Focusing on Dootje’s face, I see her gaze holds a quiet confidence. Her neatly styled hair and simple glasses speak to a time when formality and modesty were highly valued. The slightly blurred edges of the photo add to its dreamlike quality, softening reality. The composition is simple, yet effective. The subject is centered, drawing your eye directly to her expression. It reminds me of the work of Diane Arbus, who also sought to capture the inner lives of her subjects. Although unlike Arbus, the artist isn’t focused on the margins of society, but on the beauty of the everyday. Like all great art, this piece invites us to see the world, and the people in it, a little differently.