Vijf foto's van Istanboel 1926 - 1929

Editor: Here we have "Vijf foto's van Istanboel," or "Five Photos of Istanbul" by Carolina (Loentje) Frederika Onnen, taken sometime between 1926 and 1929. They’re gelatin silver prints, mounted in an album. I find it so interesting to see this collection of images together like this... it feels so personal. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the gelatin silver print itself: mass-produced, relatively inexpensive, and capable of capturing detail efficiently. Onnen's choice of this medium suggests accessibility, perhaps aligning with a broader societal shift in the 1920s toward democratizing image-making. Think about how these five snapshots function as a collective narrative about Istanbul, constructed not by grand, monumental views but through fragments of daily life. The photograph of the horse-drawn carriage, for instance. Who is being transported and what materials were used to produce the carriage itself? What class does this imply and where is its journey taking place? Editor: That’s an interesting point, examining daily life as a constructed experience. I hadn't considered how the *act* of taking these photos using then-contemporary technology might reflect social values or status. Curator: Exactly! And how that relates to consumption and tourism. Are these the images of someone simply documenting their experience of the exotic, or is there a more nuanced engagement with the social and material conditions of Istanbul at this time? Does the act of pasting them into a photograph album change or fix meaning for the owner of the album? Editor: That is a great perspective on Onnen’s work that makes me reconsider the historical context behind each picture, as well as the purpose behind gathering them this way! Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! It’s about recognizing art as more than just aesthetics, but as a product of material forces.