J.J. Witsen en Cobi Arntzenius-Witsen c. 1860 - 1915

This gelatin silver print captures J.J. Witsen and Cobi Arntzenius-Witsen, immortalized by Willem Witsen. Witsen created this photographic piece, reflective of the Netherlands' late 19th and early 20th-century society. Looking closely at the image, we can see how photography was becoming more accessible, documenting the lives of the Dutch elite. The couple's posed yet relaxed demeanor and fashionable attire suggest a degree of social standing and cultural capital. The garden setting, reminiscent of domestic tranquility, reinforces this sense of bourgeois comfort. This image may seem like a simple portrait, but it reflects the changing dynamics of Dutch society at the time, where industrialization and urbanization were beginning to reshape traditional social structures. As historians, we look at archives, letters, and other documents that might provide insight into the lives of the Witsen family, how they viewed themselves and the world around them.