Seydou Keita

This photo taken by Seydou Keita in either 1952 or 1955 effectively shows how powerful portraits are. Portraits by definition are photos that predominantly focus on one’s facial expression. The sisters in this photo particularly caught my eye. Their matching outfits are a telltale sign of familaial relation. I originally assumed they were twins, but after further studying the photo, I believe that they are sisters instead. I was taken aback by these children whose faces are so young, but so morbid. I find their facial expressions or lack thereof to be fascinating. Their faces are dim and downtrodden, almost lifeless. Their expressions give off an apparent helpless and melancholic energy. I often find the hidden beauty in sad images such as this one. Two young girls who aren’t not smiling, stoic yet beautiful, like dolls. I suspect from their bland expressions that they were unamused by being photographed though it could be that their dresses were beginning to itch. The black and white edit on the photo emphasizes how white and crisp their dresses were which may have been a challenge to maintain because the floor looks dirty and unkempt. The grainy resolution only adds dimension to the piece. I noticed that Seydou used a relatively wide frame for the photo. I think this piece is better from farther away so it can capture all the elements in the photo. For example, the wrinkled curtains in the back and the girls shoes. Without these elements, it is harder to read the story behind the photograph. Since there is no background information on this photo I can only speculate on what their lives were like, but I think photos like this can tell a story as long as you’re willing to look for it.

Seydou Keita: 1952 / 1955: http://www.seydoukeitaphotographer.com/en/photographs/children/#7