Portret van een onbekende vrouw in een omlijsting met bloemen c. 1895 - 1910

Johannes Gerard Middendorp made this portrait of an unknown woman, framed by flowers. It’s a photo, so the idea of 'making' is different than painting, but you still have to admire Middendorp’s decisions. I can imagine him carefully staging the scene, playing with the light and shadow to create a sense of depth and drama. The flowers aren't just decoration; they become part of the woman’s story. Each petal and leaf carefully placed. It reminds me of when I'm building up layers in my own work, each stroke and color contributing to the overall feel. Was he thinking about how this image would be received, how it might capture a moment in time that would last forever? There's something so intimate about a portrait. Artists, like Middendorp, invite us to look closely, to consider the stories that lie beneath the surface.