Interieur van het huis 1890 - 1910

Otto Hisgen made this photograph, ‘Interieur van het huis’, with an eye for the tastes of the well-to-do. Looking at this image, we can see the trappings of wealth and leisure. The pool table, potted plants and ornate furniture create a sense of comfort and refinement, but what does this tell us about the society in which it was made? Consider the time and place: Germany, perhaps the early 20th century. The image speaks to the aspirations of the middle classes. The newly wealthy merchants and industrialists were keen to display their affluence, so they filled their homes with fashionable items. It's a world that craves respectability. Historians might look at sources such as furniture catalogues, etiquette manuals and photographs like this one to understand the values and social structures of the time. Art, like this photograph, is always rooted in a specific social and institutional context.