Dolph Kessler met vrienden voor een kroeg in Gainsborough c. 1903 - 1904

Curator: Standing before us is an albumen print attributed to Geldolph Adriaan Kessler, likely taken between 1903 and 1904. The piece, titled “Dolph Kessler met vrienden voor een kroeg in Gainsborough,” translates to "Dolph Kessler with friends in front of a pub in Gainsborough" and now resides at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The tonal range in this albumen print is fascinating, creating a sepia-toned world. The light etches the texture of the building and clothing, producing a rather contemplative, slightly somber mood despite the social gathering. Curator: Indeed. It's worth considering the social dynamics captured here. We see Dolph, seated with a walking stick, seemingly the center of this gathering outside, we assume, this pub. Given his social standing, how might their individual accessibilities of privilege been perceived then versus now? It urges a discussion of social hierarchy and class identity. Editor: Let's not ignore how carefully composed this work is, even if casual seeming. Consider how the figures arrange themselves in relation to one another, mirroring and contrasting each other's stance and position—note the one with his foot propped up. These aren't happenstance groupings, but considered balances and geometries. The background lines converge to create points of focus in the subjects, bringing us into this social tableau. Curator: I find myself drawn to consider the narrative beyond the aesthetic: Who were these friends? What kind of conversations filled the pub then? And, given Gainsborough's industrial history, how might their gatherings intersect with local politics or community action? This snapshot holds multitudes, extending far beyond this visual moment. Editor: But let's not discard the pure artistry; the way the tonal gradations across their outfits, the delicate fall-off in the negative spaces behind them, gives the scene volume. Through these structural, even architectural forms, the photographer crafted a piece as solid and permanent as that building they lean against. Curator: Absolutely, and this photo also acts as a reminder that how the representation of masculinity is very much something of a performative concept in media that has shifted. These types of visual documents have actively informed our understanding, generation to generation, regarding cultural understandings of status, and so much more. Editor: It really causes one to study and reflect on the geometry of human form, its capabilities for capturing candid, ephemeral moments.