Twee vrouwen voor een raam in het grachtenpand aan Herengracht 258, Amsterdam, links Lucia Wilhelmina Piek-Jolles, rechts Cato Piek 1889 - 1893

Curator: Looking at this piece, I feel a certain... stillness. A quiet, contemplative moment frozen in time. Editor: This print is titled "Twee vrouwen voor een raam in het grachtenpand aan Herengracht 258, Amsterdam, links Lucia Wilhelmina Piek-Jolles, rechts Cato Piek," which translates to "Two women before a window in the canal house at Herengracht 258, Amsterdam". It dates from between 1889 and 1893 and the photographer was Johanna Margaretha Piek. It offers an intriguing slice of bourgeois life in Amsterdam. I wonder, looking at it now, do you sense any stories unfolding beneath the surface of that stillness? Curator: It feels sepulchral, the image. As if whatever colors there may have been in the scene have faded into the mist of time. And they could just be enjoying each other’s company! Editor: Precisely! The act of creating such a posed image at this period had a social function; to demonstrate certain aspects of life at that time, maybe to be able to pass along through the family history, and so it becomes part of the material culture from this time. Curator: Yes, one does get a very "posed" sense of that, I can imagine them setting there patiently. How do you feel this kind of historical portrait reflects changing attitudes toward public presentation in photography? Is there anything that stands out for you? Editor: Definitely. Compared to the informal snapshots we take today, this is a very formal endeavor. Notice the light and the location, all were set with one thing in mind: the importance of the bourgeois family through its roots in society. We see it, really, becoming increasingly accessible as the photographic medium advances, with a proliferation of photographers. It has this intimate perspective and still creates an impression. Curator: So, an image to behold time! Now the impression the image leaves feels quite lasting and vivid! Editor: Agreed, indeed, let's hope we also provided some food for thought here, in such a reduced space!