Portret van een staande vrouw bij een stoel 1897 - 1920

E. Uhlenhuth made this portrait of a standing woman leaning against a chair and we're looking at a photograph rendered in tones of grey and cream. What hits me first is how the softness of the grey palette shapes the emotional tone. There's a subtlety in the way the light falls across her face and clothes, creating a feeling of quiet dignity. Looking closer, you can almost feel the texture of her dress, it has a subtle sheen. Then there’s the lace collar. Think about the hours that would have gone into making that lace, each stitch placed with intention. It speaks of a time when craft was a form of meditation, a way of slowing down. The way that the subject has been framed in the shot and the overall composition reminds me of some of the portrait photography of Julia Margaret Cameron. This piece reminds us that art isn’t just about what we see, but about how we see and feel.