Gezelschap zittend aan tafel naast een tennisbaan before 1894

This photograph by Hendrik Herman van den Berg captures a group gathered around a table, perhaps enjoying a moment of leisure. The hats and formal attire speak of a bygone era, hinting at the rituals and social structures of the time. Consider the hat—a symbol of status and identity—reminiscent of ancient headdresses denoting authority. In ancient Egypt, the headdress of a Pharaoh was an assertion of divine right. Throughout history, headwear has been a marker of social standing, a tradition that is now echoed, although faintly, in contemporary fashion. The act of gathering itself—sharing food and drink—carries echoes of ancient communal rites. Think of the symposiums of classical antiquity where intellectual and social exchange occurred over wine. The tennis lawn in the background indicates a shared experience and leisure, a development of the late nineteenth century. The image invites us to reflect on our own subconscious desires for belonging and connection. The cyclical nature of human experience and the persistence of symbols remind us that history is never truly past, but always resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.