Drie groepsportretten van de vrienden van Loentje Onnen 1911 - 1915

Loentje Onnen created these three group portraits of friends in 1944 using photography. The sepia tone and small rectangular format gives the series a vintage feel, drawing us into a world of memory and nostalgia. Looking at the composition, we see a strong emphasis on capturing informal gatherings, with each group arranged in relaxed poses. The textures in the photos vary from the blurry background foliage to the softer focus on the figures, creating an interesting visual rhythm. Onnen's choice of photography and her framing of friends highlights how social connections are shaped through images. It subtly challenges traditional portraiture by focusing not on individual status but on collective identity, inviting us to consider how these images might reflect broader cultural codes around friendship, gender, and belonging during that time. The faded quality of the photographs contributes to the ongoing re-interpretation of these portraits, positioning them within a larger cultural and philosophical discourse about memory and representation.