Prijslijst van fotostudio Koene & Buttinghausen (achterzijde) before 1920

Curator: Here we have an intriguing artifact: a price list, "Prijslijst," from the Koene & Buttinghausen photography studio, dating from before 1920. Editor: It’s really just a poster, though. The listing of the sizes, cabinet, promenade, the prices. I suppose a modern version would just be on a website, huh? Looking at this I guess I’m wondering about the experience of commissioning a photograph back then. Curator: Precisely! The poster, a humble thing, but oh, so much to unravel! Think about photography in that era—it wasn't the instant, ubiquitous act it is now. Editor: More of a formal affair? Curator: Absolutely. This price list offered clients access to various levels of portraiture experiences. "Boudoir," "Salon"—these weren’t just formats; they were statements, declarations of status, perhaps dreams of immortality, little frozen moments against the relentless current of time, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Totally. But photography has always felt like an objective medium, recording exactly what's there. But from what you say, the framing was very controlled. It wasn’t just a record. Curator: Ah, there's where the magic lies, wouldn't you say? Even the act of choosing which “Encadrementen in Guivre-Poli, Renaissance, Peluche en Morastanders" – the frames! – all became a piece of theater and stagecraft to portray one’s persona for posterity, for connection. Editor: The past felt like a different country! Thank you, I’ve learned a lot today. Curator: Indeed! What better lens than art to reflect upon where we've come, and the stories these forgotten prints tell?