Groepsportret van (vermoedelijk) een studentengenootschap tijdens een diner c. 1895 - 1910

This group portrait, likely made by Nicolaas Schuitvlot, captures a student society, maybe during dinner, in a small, rectangular frame. The palette is grayscale, varying between light and dark. Looking at these students, I wonder what it was like to be there with them, maybe during one of their secret meetings! How did they react to one another’s thoughts and ideas? Were they debating important societal issues or just joking around and enjoying each other's company? The lighting is dim, and the image is slightly grainy; these elements give the portrait an atmospheric, ethereal quality that’s quite moody. It makes me think about Rembrandt, who knew how to master light, tone and composition. I also think about August Sander, who photographed the German people. Schuitvlot may have been thinking about them too. This image feels like a slice of life, an intimate glimpse into a particular time.