Norbert van den Berg en Carolina Holle op het strand van Zandvoort before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg captured Norbert van den Berg and Carolina Holle on the beach of Zandvoort using the photographic materials of his time. Photography, though seemingly immediate, involves a complex choreography of materials. Consider the light-sensitive emulsion, carefully applied to the paper; the precise timing required for exposure; and the darkroom alchemy needed to bring the image to life. Each step demands technical skill. The photograph, with its sepia tones, captures a moment of leisure. The subjects are dressed in their finery, seemingly removed from the world of labor. Yet, the very act of creating the photograph is work in itself. By attending to the material and process, we recognize photography's place alongside other skilled trades, challenging the idea of art as something separate from everyday labor.