Fotoalbum met opnames van de Frans Hals Feesten in Haarlem op 14 juni 1900 Possibly 1900 - 1914

This photo album, a souvenir of the Frans Hals Feesten in Haarlem, was made by Willem Hendrik Dikkenberg on June 14, 1900. It’s got this understated cover, a deep red, almost like dried blood, with gold lettering pressed into it. I’m drawn to the texture of the cover; it looks like cloth. It's smooth and matte, and that gold lettering catches the light just so. The corners have these embossed designs, like tiny, stylized Chinese knots. They make me think of the kind of care and attention people used to put into making even everyday objects beautiful. You know, when I see something like this, I think about the way we collect and hold onto memories, and how physical objects become vessels for our experiences. It kind of reminds me of Ed Ruscha's artist books from the 60's. The album is a humble invitation to remember that day in Haarlem.