Salon van Huize Boschbeek te Santpoort-Zuid c. 1885 - 1900

C. Steenbergh's photograph captures the 'Salon van Huize Boschbeek te Santpoort-Zuid' and presents a look into the domestic sphere of the Dutch elite. The image provides a peek into the aesthetic values and social rituals of its time. The careful arrangement of furniture and decorative elements, from the ornate candelabra to the floral patterns, reflect a culture of refined taste. But what did it cost to cultivate this taste? Who was excluded from this refined interior? Consider the labor required to maintain such a space, the hands that polished the silver and arranged the flowers. The identities and experiences of these workers are conspicuously absent, yet their presence is implied. While the image exudes an air of serenity, it prompts us to think about the complex social dynamics that shaped this environment. It makes us wonder what stories remain untold.