Twee foto's van de familie Van den Berg bij Huize Welgelegen, Driebergen 1924 - 1927

Hendrik Herman van den Berg captured these two photographs of the Van den Berg family at Huize Welgelegen in Driebergen in July 1924. What I love about these old photographs is their accidental, unposed quality. Look at the way Van den Berg has captured the scene. The grey tones create a beautiful overall balance, but the surface of the print is what really makes it sing. It’s smooth, almost matte, which gives the image a timeless feel. The contrast makes you focus on the texture of the paper itself. In the upper image, the white table cloth, with its folds and shadows, becomes a focal point. The lower image with the child on the donkey has a quiet solemnity, the black line of the road cutting through the lush background like a knife through butter. Van den Berg reminds me a little of Eugène Atget, documenting ordinary life with a quiet, observant eye. These images aren’t about grand gestures, but about capturing the poetry of everyday moments. And maybe that’s where the real art lies.