Groepsportret te Duinenberg before 1894

This small photograph was captured by Hendrik Herman van den Berg. The sepia tones were created through a chemical process that renders the image both fragile and strangely permanent. Photography in this era was an interesting intersection of industry and art. Each image was a miniature production, requiring darkrooms, dangerous chemicals, and specialized equipment. Despite these demands, photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible beyond the elite who could afford painting. Note the clothing of the subjects - their hats, dresses and suits made by unseen hands in textile mills and tailoring shops. The image, produced through industrial means, captures a moment of leisure made possible by the same forces. Van den Berg’s photograph is a testament to how technological advancement intertwines with personal experience, capturing a moment in time within a web of social and economic relationships.