Kinderen spelen op straat 1864 - 1880

Curator: This gelatin-silver print, titled "Kinderen spelen op straat," which translates to "Children Playing in the Street," was captured sometime between 1864 and 1880 by Jules Marinier. Editor: My first impression is how staged it seems, yet the children in the foreground give the impression of movement. Despite the stiffness, the figures evoke nostalgia, reminiscent of classic genre scenes, capturing everyday life. Curator: Absolutely. Genre scenes such as these offered social commentary through seemingly innocuous slices of life. Street photography at this time aimed to document social realities, sometimes romanticizing them but often reflecting genuine living conditions. This image aligns with the Realism movement which saw its heyday in the latter half of the 19th century. Editor: Look at the subtle details—the architectural backdrop with vines, or the clothing. What sort of emotional landscape do those things reveal? Are these middle-class families? And, is that some sort of symbolic gate? Curator: The presence of multiple generations implies a societal emphasis on familial continuity. Furthermore, photographing children underscored the investment in future societal values, reinforcing established norms. Consider that photography was not a common occurence and undertaking this for a simple 'slice of life' reveals a strong leaning to its acceptance into wider cultural and artistic appreciation. Editor: True. Plus, the very act of stopping time, of memorializing this scene, also gives the activity of play symbolic value. And those posed figures looming over the playing children almost seem to carry the heavy burden of future expectations. I'm particularly interested in exploring further the idea of that expectation in connection with urban developments. Curator: I agree entirely. "Kinderen spelen op straat" doesn't simply offer a glimpse into the 19th century; it provokes thoughtful inquiry into social norms, expectations, and how photographic technologies influenced our perceptions. Editor: Indeed. From a symbolic vantage, it allows us to reflect on the evolving role of childhood and its symbolic resonance through time, frozen as it is, here in a gelatine-silver print.