Portret van Stephan Piek met een van zijn kinderen tijdens een picknick 1889 - 1893

Johanna Margaretha Piek took this photograph of Stephan Piek with one of his children, sometime around the turn of the century. The image presents a carefully constructed vision of domesticity. With its formal composition and soft focus, the photograph elevates the subject to something more than a simple snapshot. The setting of the picnic, the clothing and the pose, all create an image of bourgeois leisure. In the Netherlands, this period saw the rise of a wealthy middle class who had the time and money to enjoy such activities. As historians, we can look at photographs like this one as valuable documents that reveal social attitudes and cultural values. Researching the Piek family, their social circle, and the broader context of Dutch society at the time could give us further insight into the meanings and messages embedded in this seemingly simple image.