Herten in Park Sonsbeek te Arnhem 1918

E. v.d. Kerkhoff captured this tranquil image of deer in Park Sonsbeek, Arnhem using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. The choice of photography, with its indexical relationship to reality, is significant. Photography, unlike painting, offered a seemingly objective representation of the world. Yet, the photographer still makes choices about composition, light, and focus that shape the image and its meaning. In this photograph, the deer are carefully arranged in the foreground, inviting the viewer into a pastoral scene. The act of photographing itself was becoming increasingly accessible, thanks to industrial advancements in camera and film production. This democratization of image-making allowed for a broader range of subjects and perspectives to be captured, challenging traditional hierarchies within the art world. By considering the materials and processes involved in creating this photograph, we can appreciate the shift in artistic practices and the evolving relationship between art, technology, and society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.