Groepsportret van de familie Geertsema met Karel van den Berg, zittend op de trap achter het huis, rechtsvoor jongeman met camera c. 1895 - 1905

This photograph capturing the Geertsema family, including Karel van den Berg, was taken by A.C.M. Geertsema. Imagine for a moment what it was like to gather a group of this size for a photograph at the turn of the century. The rigid poses and formal attire speak volumes about the performative nature of identity during this era. Note the young man in the front row with the camera. His presence is particularly striking because it blurs the lines between subject, object, and creator. It raises questions about who has the power to represent whom, and what stories are left untold. The photograph also serves as a meditation on family, legacy, and the ways in which we construct narratives about ourselves and our place in the world. It is a reminder that every image, no matter how candid it may seem, is carefully curated. In what ways does this curation reflect or depart from societal norms?