Groepsportret bestuursleden van Arti et Amicitiae met hun echtgenotes tijdens een diner 1891

Editor: Here we have a gelatin-silver print from 1891. It’s titled "Groepsportret bestuursleden van Arti et Amicitiae met hun echtgenotes tijdens een diner," which translates to "Group Portrait of Board Members of Arti et Amicitiae with Their Wives during a Dinner." From an anonymous artist, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The photograph has a slightly somber mood, and I’m immediately drawn to the formality of the occasion. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Well, I'm immediately whisked back to the Gilded Age! This isn't just a record; it’s a window. It makes me think about what wasn't captured... the clinking glasses, hushed conversations, maybe a bit of scandal brewing under the table? This organization ‘Arti et Amicitiae’ – Friends of Art – was a society in Amsterdam championing the arts and artists and its cultural values. Look how the candlelight glints off the glassware. Does it not feel a touch theatrical, almost as though it’s a scene being performed for the camera? Editor: Definitely, it feels very posed, very deliberate. But do you think it still gives us an insight into these people and the era? Curator: Absolutely! Even with the formality, there’s something profoundly human in those gazes. Those aren’t actors; they’re real people navigating a changing world, and this photo preserves a snippet of their time – their worries, dreams, aspirations, frozen in silver and gelatin. What story do you imagine when you look at their faces? Editor: I see a sense of self-importance, maybe a little boredom? The women seem less engaged than the men. Curator: Perhaps! Or perhaps they simply understood the limitations of an 1890s photoshoot! In truth, though, each face presents a fascinating invitation to write stories and what I really like about it is that there isn't just one obvious narrative in the historical record here. Editor: That's a great way to think about it, looking beyond just the surface. It is quite fascinating. Curator: Isn't it though! I find myself grateful that we still engage with these windows to the past. It makes us rethink the purpose and responsibility we share.