Groepsportret van vijftien kinderen Possibly 1914 - 1919

This little double photo by E. ten Cate, titled 'Group Portrait of Fifteen Children' feels like a memory emerging from a sepia dream. It's more like a snapshot of a moment, of childhood, of connection. You can almost smell the grass and feel the sun on their faces, perched as they are atop what looks like a small hill or mound, a natural stage for this impromptu gathering. I imagine the photographer, Ten Cate, trying to capture this unruly bunch, each child a little universe of energy and impatience. It's a moment of stillness wrested from the chaos of play. And I wonder, who were these kids? Did they grow up together, sharing secrets and dreams under that big open sky? It reminds me that all artworks are really just conversations across time. Ten Cate captured the image and now here we are, looking back, imagining the possibilities. It’s a reminder that even in the most seemingly straightforward image, there's always room for uncertainty, for dreaming, for feeling.