Een scène uit het toneelstuk 'Wat Jonas overkwam' Possibly 1936

This photograph by Fotobureau Stevens captures a scene from the play 'What Happened to Jonas,' and although undated, we can tell a lot from its materiality. The gelatin silver print, a process refined in the late 19th century, democratized photography, allowing for mass reproduction. The choice of this process speaks volumes about the intended audience, likely a broad public, interested in theater but perhaps not wealthy enough to collect original art. The sharp monochrome image freezes the actors in mid-performance, the stage set meticulously arranged with familiar markers of bourgeois life. Consider the labor involved – not just the photographer’s skill, but also the actors, set designers, and the playwright themselves. It’s a record of collective effort, all rendered in shades of gray through chemical reactions on a humble sheet of paper. Looking at this image, it is clear that photography, like theatre, relies on complex production, and it's important to consider this to fully understand its cultural and historical value.