Fotoalbum aanleg Gajoweg 1903 - 1913

Editor: This is an album titled "Fotoalbum aanleg Gajoweg", dating from between 1903 and 1913. It contains photographic prints. The red cover and decorative script are eye-catching; what draws your attention when you see this object? Curator: The focus for me is less on the photographs within and more on the album itself. Consider the labor involved in producing such an item at the turn of the century. The binding, the quality of the cover material, the gold lettering—all point to specific industrial processes and access to certain materials. Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought of that! So, are you suggesting it’s not about the images inside as much as the means of presenting them? Curator: Precisely! This isn’t just about preserving memories. The album *is* an artifact in its own right. The materials speak volumes about social class and the value placed on image presentation. How available and at what cost were photography and customized albums at this time? Those questions reveal as much as what the photographs depict. Editor: So, instead of wondering what is in the album, we consider what its very existence tells us about that time period? Curator: Exactly! Consider this album in relation to, say, mass-produced picture frames becoming readily available in the late 20th century. Each speaks to a different mode of production and consumption. Editor: I never would have looked at it that way! It makes me think about what kind of albums we'll have a hundred years from now, and what they'll say about *us*. Curator: It invites reflection on material culture, which is very insightful. The humble photo album provides valuable information when viewed as more than a repository of sentimental keepsakes.