Groepsportret van de familie Hoogendijk-Van der Kop in een tuin c. 1910 - 1915

This is a photograph of the Hoogendijk-Van der Kop family in a garden. Its anonymous maker has used the then new technology of photography to create a lasting memento. The image is printed in sepia tones on paper, a process involving chemical reactions with silver compounds. The composition, lighting, and pose of the sitters all contribute to the material impact of this unique object, made in a time of rapid industrialization and technological change. The photograph captures a moment in the history of labor and class. Seven maids in aprons and hats surround the family dressed in formal attire, creating a staged tableau of domestic hierarchy. By framing and preserving such scenes, photography played a role in shaping social memory and cementing class structures. It raises important questions about labor, representation, and the gaze of both the photographer and the viewer.