Twee mannen op het strand before 1900

This photograph, "Twee mannen op het strand", or "Two men on the beach" by S. van Genderingen is a small piece, only 69 by 94 mm. It is part of a larger book. The photograph is a black and white image depicting two men on a beach under a bright, clear sky. The men are dressed in dark clothing. It's a quiet moment of observation, made possible through the relatively new technologies of photography and mass printing. Consider how the photograph itself exists as a reproducible object, a trace of labor both artistic and industrial. The photographer's eye, the workers in the darkroom, the printing press – all contribute to its existence. The photographic print is an item of mass culture, that circulates widely and is consumed by many. By considering the photograph in the context of its production, we can appreciate its significance as both a document and an artifact of modern life.