Portret van een bruidspaar in de tuin 1890 - 1917

Johannis Lasonder captured this wedding portrait, likely at the turn of the century, using a photographic process that was both novel and increasingly accessible. Consider the weight of tradition pressing on this couple, especially the bride. Her dress, the veil, the bouquet – each element speaks to societal expectations of purity and domesticity, yet these symbols also represent hope and new beginnings. The setting, a carefully manicured garden, offers a glimpse into the couple’s social standing, hinting at middle-class aspirations and the cultivation of an ideal life. There's a formality to their pose, a stillness that belies the complex emotions swirling beneath the surface. What dreams do they harbor? What compromises will they make? The photograph invites us to reflect on the institution of marriage itself: its promises, its constraints, and its enduring power to shape individual destinies. It’s not just a picture of a couple, but a mirror reflecting the values and anxieties of a bygone era.