De vrienden van Dolph Kessler poseren onder Gainsborough Bridge c. 1903 - 1904

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler made this photograph of his friends under Gainsborough Bridge. The image gives us a glimpse into the social life of young, well-to-do men in the Netherlands, likely sometime in the early 20th century. Consider the setting: a sturdy, stone bridge arching over a waterway, with an industrial building visible in the background. These visual elements speak to a nation undergoing modernization, where infrastructure and industry were becoming increasingly prominent features of the landscape. The subjects are formally dressed in suits and hats, indicative of their social standing and adherence to sartorial conventions. Yet there is a casualness to their poses and expressions, suggesting a relaxed camaraderie amongst them. As art historians, we look to visual and documentary sources, such as personal letters and institutional records, to better understand this image in its historical moment. By analyzing the photograph in relation to the social and economic conditions of its time, we can gain insights into the cultural values and lived experiences of the Dutch elite.