Portret van Floris de Boer, hoogleraar wis- en natuurkunde in Groningen en rector magnificus van 1895 tot 1896 before 1896

Editor: This is a photographic print of "Portret van Floris de Boer," likely made before 1896. It appears to be a portrait included in a Groningse Studenten Almanak or student yearbook. It strikes me as a pretty standard, formal portrait of the time. What strikes you when you look at this image? Curator: What interests me is less the portrait itself, and more how the photographic print signifies access and representation. Who has the privilege of being recorded and remembered in such a public document? Who is missing, and why? Editor: That's a powerful perspective. I hadn't really considered it beyond face value. Curator: Look at the Almanak. It embodies a particular moment and celebrates specific individuals, largely academics and members of the student body. Photography here isn't just about documentation; it's about social power and belonging. In what ways do exclusionary practices around portraiture reflect larger inequalities of the era? Editor: So, in a way, this image represents the selective history of that time. I imagine many voices are silenced. Does this shift how we should consider archival photographs from now on? Curator: Precisely! Photographs always reflect power dynamics. We should always ask ourselves, “Who took this picture and who gets remembered in its frame?”. By critiquing historical images like this, perhaps we can encourage more inclusive methods of image making today. Editor: Thank you. That definitely provides a new and necessary critical lens through which to appreciate the work.