Portret van Anthony Fokker in zijn vliegtuig tijdens het Koninginnefeest in Haarlem, 1911 1911

Curator: It's almost dreamlike, a faded sepia tone lends it such a nostalgic feeling. What strikes you about this vintage photograph? Editor: The contraption itself is what holds my attention. It feels exposed and incredibly fragile. I cannot imagine flying that. Curator: What you're observing is a portrait captured in 1911, it depicts Anthony Fokker in his aircraft during the Queen's Day celebrations in Haarlem. It's a gelatin silver print, lending it that distinctive warm tone you noted. Fokker, of course, was a pioneer in aviation, and later became infamous as the "Flying Dutchman." Editor: He's quite young here. It's interesting how Fokker is already participating in civic rituals of Queen’s day. But how would his later notoriety change the viewing public’s opinion of an image like this? He is part inventor, part daredevil, and the exposure feels calculated. Curator: That notoriety colours our reading now, absolutely. What emerges here is this feeling of national identity at a crucial moment. Aviation was transforming notions of territory and power. To place Fokker, and his aircraft, in the middle of a national celebration underscores how technology was being absorbed into a collective vision. What symbols do you see here? Does anything capture your attention besides the mechanical ingenuity? Editor: He seems proud, but his posture suggests vulnerability. The machine becomes an extension of himself, and perhaps symbolizes an attempt at transcending human limitations. Curator: That tension between triumph and precariousness is palpable. He's literally exposed to the elements, trusting his invention, and the technology of the time. His vulnerability connects him to all the brave innovators, and to our human desires to fly. And how his creation will serve the needs of the military later. Editor: To imagine him in this open machine, during a festival that now is celebrated with complete joy and fun, provides an uncanny layer of visuality to Queen’s day back then, now, and always. I cannot ignore what I now know came later. Curator: Absolutely, the image speaks across time, and now to our place, raising questions, offering subtle answers. Editor: Indeed. It reveals how we are still attempting to reconcile innovation and progress with human desires for peace and a shared vision.