Groepsportret van Europeanen in de tropen, gekleed in het wit. c. 1910

This sepia photograph of Europeans in the tropics, all dressed in white, was taken by Frits Freerks Fontein Fz. sometime in the early 20th Century. The photograph's surface has a delicate, almost ethereal quality, with tones that subtly blend together, creating a soft, dreamlike atmosphere. The sepia tone flattens the image, giving the impression of something faded but not forgotten. Look how the details in the clothing and faces have been rendered with soft focus, evoking the heat and haze of a tropical climate. The people are gathered in a group, their white clothes contrasting with the dark, shadowy foliage behind them. This use of light and shadow emphasizes the figures while also creating a sense of depth and mystery. It makes me think of the work of someone like Gerhard Richter, who was also interested in the way photographs could be a source of both clarity and obscurity, especially when the medium is time. Like any good work of art, this image leaves you with more questions than answers.