Drie mensen bij een hockeywedstrijd tussen clubs uit Hilversum en Amsterdam 1912

This photograph, taken by Carolina Onnen, captures a moment at a hockey match between clubs from Hilversum and Amsterdam. It is a gelatin silver print, a process refined in the late 19th century that allowed for mass production and wider distribution of photographic images. The choice of this medium, which has a relatively neutral tone and fine detail, speaks to a desire to capture a seemingly objective record of social life. Yet, the very act of photographing and preserving this image elevates it beyond mere documentation. The sepia tones and the way the figures are posed lend a certain formality, typical of the era’s approach to portraiture. There is a clear social dimension to this image. It hints at the rituals and leisure activities of a specific social class, engaged in a relatively new and fashionable sport. The careful composition and preservation of this image within a personal album suggests an effort to inscribe everyday life with meaning. It reminds us that even seemingly simple snapshots carry cultural significance.