Gezicht op het strand van Dinard 1880 - 1900

Curator: This striking photograph is entitled “Gezicht op het strand van Dinard,” which translates to "View of the beach of Dinard," believed to have been captured between 1880 and 1900 by Carl Norman & Co. Editor: Ah, yes! It has this hazy, dreamlike quality, doesn't it? Almost as if the beach is fading into memory, like a sun-soaked afternoon that's only half-remembered. Curator: Precisely. This pictorialist approach emphasizes aesthetic effect over sharp realism. The sepia tone contributes to its antique feel but also encourages us to think about the development of photography as both an artistic and technological process. Consider also, the beach, a liminal space—both land and sea. The rise of the seaside resort is deeply entwined with class, leisure, and access. Editor: Right, it's not just about capturing a scene, it is about manufacturing a mood, or even...romance? The beach huts, lined up like tiny soldiers, but also inviting little escapes... like secrets whispered in the sand. You can almost smell the salty air. And those little figures dotted across the beach, each with their own stories unfolding. What do you think they might be thinking? What are their little dramas? Curator: The cityscape, too, adds to the feeling. Note how the architecture looms—a testament to the growing urbanization even in these resort towns. In many ways, seaside locales mirrored—and amplified—the power dynamics playing out across society. So many of the subjects featured may have been people looking for that sort of respite and the rise of this space offered interesting considerations about privilege. Editor: Definitely. Looking at it makes me feel wonderfully nostalgic—even for a time I never knew. A lazy day... that is both here and elsewhere. The landscape style invites you to insert yourself. Makes you yearn for a world far removed from the hustle of today. I want to grab a swimsuit and jump in the ocean. Curator: Its testament lies in inviting the viewer to reflect on not only the landscape it depicts but also the societal forces at play that render it accessible only to certain sections of society. Its historical and aesthetic dimensions urge you to pause and imagine. Editor: Indeed, its allure is irresistible.