Interieur met gedekte tafel 1889 - 1893

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at "Interieur met gedekte tafel," a photograph taken by Willem Frederik Piek Jr., likely between 1889 and 1893. What strikes you first? Editor: There's an almost ghostly quality. The room, rendered in sepia tones, feels like a memory fading. The details, while present, seem obscured. It’s definitely not a celebration of craftsmanship. Curator: I see what you mean about the ethereal quality, particularly created through the manipulation of the wet plate process, a very interesting trend at the time that sought to show, in artistic photograph, a domestic setting in Dutch high society. The careful staging speaks volumes about late 19th-century societal rituals. Editor: I find myself focusing on the materials, though. The table linens, presumably fine damask, the silverware…all the trappings of wealth and consumption. But the image isn't clear; instead the image looks more to showcase all of the goods for this social setting. The setting then dictates what can exist in society and who will get access. Curator: Absolutely, this speaks to a certain class. And remember, photography itself was still a developing medium, grappling with its role in representing reality. Editor: True. Consider the labor involved. Think about the labor required to grow the food, weave the linens, polish the silver... none of that is rendered with particular care. I wonder about who is invited. Curator: And the fact it is carefully composed means that there is a degree of privilege on the artist side; Piek decides what part of the world he is showcasing. He could not care as much as people involved in all processes. This brings me to your observation. The artist then is showcasing what the people could acquire in his world, in his period. The question of the access has always been there, but, even nowadays, is still very urgent. Editor: So it shows a closed social dynamic? Curator: That's how I would look into the history behind. Thanks to our reflection on the artwork, there's even much more things to learn.