Prentbriefkaart aan Ab Bogtman before 1936

Editor: This is a pre-1936 albumen print photograph titled "Prentbriefkaart aan Ab Bogtman" from Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, housed at the Rijksmuseum. Looking at this cityscape, I'm immediately struck by its nostalgic quality. It’s so sepia-toned that it feels like gazing into the past. What’s your perspective on this scene? Curator: Funny you say that. Sepia does have that old time vibe and there's almost something inherently romantic, almost like you want to pack your bags and get lost in it. But more concretely, what leaps out at me is how Holst frames the scene. Do you see the branches and foliage? It gives us the impression of stumbling upon this hidden view. A fleeting glimpse. Do you think he used a sepia tone filter, or might it have been a darkroom trick, don't you think? Editor: Oh, absolutely! That sense of being hidden really draws me in. I’d be inclined to think the sepia effect was maybe a product of the albumen process? The composition feels both deliberate and almost accidentally discovered. So how might that play into the art's impact? Curator: I couldn’t agree more. Now, consider this—photography in that era wasn't as instantaneous as our digital snaps today. Setting up, developing – there was an intent behind each image. Seeing the cityscape tucked behind these natural elements is a nod to the picturesque—a reminder that there’s curated beauty to find when you think to look beyond. Editor: So, we're getting not just the landscape, but the *artist’s* experience of the landscape, filtered both literally through the lens, and figuratively, right? That makes me see the photograph almost like a souvenir from someone else's lovely afternoon. Curator: Exactly, a secret glimpse shared. The layering of the image, with the darkroom effects is kind of a treasure hunt of perception. Editor: That’s given me a new appreciation. Thanks for unpacking this. I will try it myself soon!