Briefkaart aan Marie Jordan after 21

Arij Prins created this photographic postcard, a souvenir of a dinner held on April 21, 1905. Photography, like other reproductive technologies, has dramatically altered the way we consume images and understand social events. This particular photograph, printed on paper, encapsulates a moment of shared experience. Consider the process: from the careful arrangement of people and objects in the room to the click of the camera and the chemical reactions that render the image. Each step involves a kind of labor, and implicates economics. The final product is more than just a picture; it’s a material record of a specific social gathering. By valuing the materiality and production of this photograph, we recognize the connections between art, industry, and everyday life. This challenges traditional ideas about what constitutes 'high art' and invites us to appreciate the rich cultural significance embedded in seemingly simple objects.