Gezelschap poseert na de jacht Possibly 1925

Hendrik Herman van den Berg made this photographic print called 'Gezelschap poseert na de jacht', or 'Company Poses After the Hunt', sometime in the early twentieth century. I love the flatness of this piece. And I wonder what it was like to be Van den Berg, watching this hunting party arrange themselves for the photo. Did he feel like an outsider? Or was he part of the group? The sepia tones lend a nostalgic feel, like peering into a memory. The different hats worn by the men in the company catch my eye. Each hat seems to tell a story about the wearer—their status, personality, or aspirations. The way the horizon line cuts across the composition reminds me of Diebenkorn's landscapes. The tree on the left looks to be a cousin of Guston’s lonely tree in his late works. It’s as if Van den Berg is having a quiet conversation with other artists across time.