Groepsportret van (vermoedelijk) een studentengenootschap in lange gewaden c. 1895 - 1910

This photograph of a student society was taken by Nicolaas Schuitvlot, though the exact date remains unknown. Look closely at the way the figures are arranged, some in robes, others in suits, creating a tableau that hints at ritual and performance. The monochromatic tones enhance the photo's mysterious atmosphere, drawing attention to the contrasts between light and shadow. Notice the stark white robes against the dark suits, how they create a visual rhythm that moves across the composition. The texture of the photograph itself, with its subtle grain and imperfections, adds a layer of depth, reminding us of its age and the historical moment it captures. The skull drawing on the draped cloth at the center of the image adds a touch of the macabre that reminds me of the dark humour of James Ensor. Like his work, this image captures a moment of strange, theatrical intensity, inviting us to contemplate the hidden meanings behind the performance. Art embraces ambiguity, doesn’t it?