Interieur van de kamer van Hendrik Herman van den Berg before 1894

This photograph, titled 'Interior of the room of Hendrik Herman van den Berg,' was made by Van den Berg himself, probably in the early twentieth century. It's a silver gelatin print, a process that democratized photography, making it accessible to amateurs like Van den Berg. The image captures a bourgeois interior, complete with patterned wallpaper, a loaded bookshelf, and various personal effects displayed on the mantle. The textures and patterns speak of domesticity, of careful curation, and of quiet study. What’s most interesting to me is how the photograph itself mimics this effect of accumulation. The tonal range of the print is subtle, creating a soft, enveloping atmosphere much like the room itself. This kind of photographic practice reflects a shift towards photography as a personal, rather than purely commercial, pursuit. It reminds us that all modes of making are tied to social context.