Interieur van een zaal in Kasteel Cannenburgh te Vaassen 1890 - 1920

This photograph shows a reception room at Cannenburgh Castle in the Netherlands, taken by an anonymous photographer. I'm wondering about the walls and the arrangement of images on them. It gives the impression that we are looking at a history of painting, a kind of family tree, with large formal portraits surrounded by smaller, more intimate studies. I imagine the photographer positioning the camera to capture the precise angle of light filtering through the windows, seeking to evoke a sense of depth and atmosphere, to capture the history and human presence, without the people. I feel like the softness and muted tones work to create a meditative mood. The scene gives an impression of continuity between generations of artists and sitters. The act of making art, the creative energy exchanged between artists. I feel as though they are still there.