Diverse onderwerpen 1941 - 1943

Curator: Let’s consider the materiality of this photographic album. The albumen prints themselves—how do they reflect the social conditions of their creation? Editor: This is “Diverse onderwerpen,” made between 1941 and 1943, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum, author is anonymous and it’s a series of albumen prints assembled in what appears to be a personal album. I’m struck by the seemingly mundane moments captured in what must have been a very turbulent time. What do you make of its intimate scale and presentation? Curator: I’m interested in how this particular mode of display, the photo album, shapes our understanding. These aren't presented as individual art objects, but compiled, juxtaposed. This speaks to the process of meaning-making itself. Consider the labor involved, both in taking the photographs and in the act of curating them within the album. Does the ordering seem random? Or does a narrative emerge through their placement and context? Editor: That’s a great point. The arrangement does seem intentional, maybe telling a story, even if fragmented. The choice of subjects is so varied: soldiers, families, street scenes… The materiality makes me think of wartime shortages – what resources were required for albumen prints? Curator: Precisely! The materials would have been scarce, which adds another layer to its meaning. Who had access to the resources necessary for creating and preserving these images? It speaks to social stratification, even in times of hardship. And think about the chemical processes involved in developing these prints; those were far from simple or easily accessible. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s not just about the subjects in the photos, but the socio-economic implications embedded in the medium itself. Curator: Exactly. By focusing on the materiality and production, we can start to unravel the power dynamics and social contexts surrounding these seemingly simple photographs. What felt disjointed is in fact quite cohesive, through a shared mode of making and a material logic all its own. Editor: I definitely have a deeper understanding now, seeing beyond the surface of the images. The context of its materials has brought a whole new significance. Curator: Indeed. This exercise reminds us that art is never detached from the material conditions of its creation.