Fotoalbum van vakanties van de familie van Hendrik Herman van den Berg, 1923-1925 1923 - 1925

Editor: So, here we have "Fotoalbum van vakanties van de familie van Hendrik Herman van den Berg, 1923-1925", dating from 1923 to 1925. It appears to be a photograph of a family photo album. It’s deceptively simple… I'm curious, what resonates with you when you look at it? Curator: The surface of this object conceals more than it reveals. It acts as a portal into understanding bourgeois family identity in the interwar period. These are carefully constructed narratives. Think about the selection of images included, the poses, the activities documented… These albums become powerful tools for reinforcing social norms, reflecting the privileges and societal expectations placed upon the family. Who has control over what’s being photographed and archived? Editor: That’s interesting, because initially I just saw a very plain object. But now I am thinking about the power of image selection… It does make me wonder, what stories *aren't* being told? Curator: Precisely! The absences are just as crucial as the presences. This seemingly simple album participated in constructing and maintaining the family’s social standing. Consider how these images, likely carefully curated, contributed to defining gender roles and familial expectations within that specific socio-economic context. What’s not being said about those who are not included or represented in the photographs? Editor: It almost becomes a political act, then – the creation of this seemingly innocuous family archive. I hadn’t considered how deeply ingrained power dynamics are in something so personal. Curator: Exactly! Now you're seeing the album not just as a collection of snapshots, but as a complex cultural artifact reflecting a very specific social landscape. What other everyday objects might reveal such subtle, yet powerful, dynamics? Editor: That's given me a whole new way of seeing family photos! Thanks for your insight.