Vier foto's van leden van familie Van den Berg in de tuin van landhuis De Wilde Zwanen in Laren 1940 - 1942

In these four silver gelatin prints by Norbert van den Berg we see members of the Van den Berg family relaxing in the garden of their Laren estate between 1940-1942. I am thinking about how taking photographs is a way of stopping time. When I look at the top right image of a woman reclining, I can imagine Norbert carefully framing her, thinking about the contrast between the dark foliage and the white chair. It seems he wanted to capture the light and create an image that speaks to the stillness of the afternoon. Photographs like these are so personal, like a little window into someone else's history, that they can also feel universal. The careful composition reminds me of Edward Steichen and other photographers in the first half of the 20th century. When artists create, they are participating in a timeless conversation! We all draw inspiration from each other. It's an ongoing process of exchange.