Portret van Lucia Wilhelmina Piek-Jolles in een gondel in Venetië 1889 - 1893

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, taken between 1889 and 1893, captures Lucia Wilhelmina Piek-Jolles in a gondola in Venice, made by Johanna Margaretha Piek. There's something incredibly poignant about it. What speaks to you about this piece? Curator: As a materialist, I’m drawn to consider the context of its production. The gelatin-silver process was revolutionary. The mechanization and chemical advancements implied by this medium challenge older notions of artistic skill. This photograph also signifies leisure facilitated by wealth in that period, suggesting class distinctions. Editor: I see. It's not just the portrait but a document of a specific socio-economic moment. The photograph acting as evidence of social practice and the status. Curator: Exactly. The materials – the silver, the gelatin, even the water used to develop the print – speak volumes about industrial processes and the resources required for its creation. It really forces you to ask, what narratives are embedded in its materiality? And whose stories are obscured by this one image of luxury? Editor: That's a great point, the idea of "whose stories are obscured". What about its presentation as a carte de visite; was this common for photographs in that period? Curator: Indeed, understanding how this genre intersects with personal presentation and photography is essential for understanding broader material practices. They demonstrate emerging means of distributing portraits and a specific aesthetic, which in this instance represents someone enjoying a moment in Venice. But even travel in itself is the consequence of resources. Editor: This gives a new lens in viewing and analyzing beyond what I visually gather and pushes for questions on how and who were involved in its existence. Thanks for this rich context, It definitely made me think deeper on how the materials contribute meaning and impact, far from merely representing a lady on vacation!