Twee prentbriefkaarten van het bezoek van de Franse president Fallières in Den Haag Possibly 1911 - 1917

Here are two anonymous postcards, probably from around the time of the event itself, capturing French President Fallières' visit to The Hague. The monochromatic palette forces us to focus on form and texture – the grand architecture, the crowds, and the horse-drawn carriages. What strikes me is the contrast between the static, imposing buildings and the dynamic energy of the people and horses. Look at the way the light catches the columns of the building in the top image, creating a sense of depth and weight. Then, shift your gaze to the blurry figures in the crowd, each one a tiny mark contributing to the overall atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. This interplay of stillness and movement really animates the photograph. These postcards remind me a bit of the work of Eugène Atget, who documented the streets of Paris with a similar eye for detail and atmosphere. Like Atget, the anonymous photographer here invites us to contemplate the relationship between the individual and the city, between the past and the present. It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images can hold layers of meaning and invite multiple interpretations.