Berti Hoppe en haar moeder op de boot van Arnhem naar Nijmegen 1933

Editor: Here we have Herman Besselaar's gelatin-silver print from 1933, titled "Berti Hoppe en haar moeder op de boot van Arnhem naar Nijmegen"—a snapshot of a mother and daughter traveling by boat. The stark black and white tones give it such a vintage feel, almost nostalgic. What do you see in this piece, looking beyond the surface? Curator: I see a potent tableau of familial legacy and displacement. Note the repetitive visual motif of the boat, appearing in a sequence; this repetition signifies a journey, both literal and perhaps metaphorical. The images suggest the women, possibly refugees or travelers in a pre-war Europe on the brink of transformation, experiencing life adrift and in-transit. What strikes you about their positioning in each frame? Editor: I see what you mean, the composition tells a story. The first image shows them together, more connected, whereas in the other two, they’re isolated, almost contemplative. It is poignant. Does the medium - gelatin silver print - add to the meaning for you? Curator: Absolutely. The use of photography as a medium, especially in the 1930s, lends an air of authenticity. Photos were becoming powerful mnemonic devices. Each frame is a visual record but imbued with layers of emotion – hope, uncertainty, and perhaps a quiet strength inherited through generations. The image becomes less a depiction of a boat ride and more a symbolic voyage. What feeling remains with you? Editor: Definitely the bittersweet sense of memory and transience that you pointed out. There's so much packed into these small frames! Curator: Precisely! It’s the beauty of symbols, isn’t it? Seemingly simple images hold vast narratives within, echoing through history.