Gezelschap aan de kant van de weg, mogelijk bij L'Isle-Adam 1897

This photograph titled ‘Gezelschap aan de kant van de weg, mogelijk bij L'Isle-Adam’ was captured by Delizy. The image offers a glimpse into the leisure of the upper class. It captures a group of people pausing on what might be a day trip. The two women are presented only from behind, one holding a parasol to protect her skin from the sun. This act was a means to maintain their class status. Pale skin was a visual signifier of a life of leisure, free from manual labour. In contrast to the women, the men are not shielded from the sun. They seem at ease, dressed in suits that signify their status. Yet, there is a strange stillness. They are captured not in action, but rather in a pose that feels both staged and slightly awkward. The photograph invites us to consider the complex performance of class. It highlights the ways in which leisure and status are visually constructed and experienced. What does it mean to perform your status?