Portret van J.B. Aug. Kessler, Henri Deterding en An Kessler before 1900

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler made this portrait in the Netherlands, but the exact date is unknown. It depicts J.B. Aug. Kessler, Henri Deterding, and An Kessler, likely members of the same family. The image provides insight into the social dynamics of the Dutch upper class during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The subjects' formal attire, including bowler hats and a tailored suit, signals their affluence and adherence to societal norms. The presence of figures in the background, blurred and less defined, accentuates the status of the foregrounded trio. To fully understand this portrait, a historian might investigate the Kessler family's role in Dutch society and their connections to political or economic institutions. Considering the cultural context of the time would shed light on the values and aspirations of the Dutch elite. It's through such investigation that the image can speak to the intricate web of social and institutional relationships of its era.