Groepsportret van Bram, David, Sophie en Tine Vermeulen aan de ontbijttafel, Königswinter c. 1895 - 1905

This is a photographic print made by David Vermeulen, showing a group portrait of four children at the breakfast table in Königswinter. As a photographic print, the image is an index of light and time. The darkroom processes used to make these prints are technically skilled, requiring a complex alchemy and a deep understanding of chemistry. But they're also driven by the desire to record everyday life. This one seems to be taken in a single shot, documenting a specific moment in time for this family, perhaps on vacation. The composition, the poses of the children, and the clarity of the breakfast table speak to a tradition of both professional studio portraits and amateur photography. It’s fascinating to consider how photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible beyond the wealthy elite who could afford to commission painted likenesses. Photography allowed for the meticulous preservation of memories, becoming an integral part of family history. The beauty lies not just in the image itself, but in the process that captures and preserves a fragment of time.