What struck me is the expression of the children; empty eyes, blank looks. As if they have truly suffered and have no hope.
Old photographs can have the same effect, but in that case it was because it took so long to take a picture- remaining still the entire time caused people to look very serious or lifeless.
Also, ‘death portraits’ were a thing back in the day, talk about lifeless eyes.
Surmising she had a forlorn formative years