Lodewijk Asser, zoon van de fotograaf, op een driewieler c. 1853

Eduard Isaac Asser made this photograph of his son, Lodewijk, on a tricycle using an early photographic process. Asser was not only a pioneer of photography, but also of intellectual property law. His position in Dutch society afforded him the privilege to explore the relatively new medium of photography, capturing intimate, domestic scenes such as this one. The image presents a formal portrait of a child who seems to be caught between innocence and self-awareness. Lodewijk sits on a wheeled rocking horse, one hand casually placed on his face. A hat sits in his lap. His gaze is direct, but his posture suggests a weariness beyond his years. The image’s sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminding us of childhood’s fleeting nature and the social conditions that allowed for its preservation through art. Consider the history embedded in this seemingly simple image. It reflects both the universal experience of childhood and the particular circumstances of a family living in a time of great social and technological change.