Picknickende mensen in het Corsicaanse berglandschap c. 1886 - 1896

Editor: This photograph, titled "Picknickende mensen in het Corsicaanse berglandschap" or "Picnicking People in the Corsican Mountain Landscape", captured by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht somewhere between 1886 and 1896. There's something about the almost faded realism that gives it a very intimate feel. It is located in the Rijksmuseum, by the way. How do you read this image, in terms of storytelling? Curator: Well, that's the charm, isn't it? It's almost voyeuristic. These figures frozen in time, enjoying a meal amidst the harsh beauty of the Corsican mountains. It's less a meticulously posed portrait, more a fleeting glimpse into someone's day – a ‘snapshot’ of a moment long gone, that we would share instantly now. The lighting and focus add a layer of mystique and, maybe a slight disconnect? The rugged terrain dominates, almost swallowing the people. Editor: It's funny you say that - I feel as though the harshness of the landscape might amplify how truly intimate a simple act like sharing a picnic with those closest must feel. What does that starkness represent for you? Curator: For me, that's the essence. Corsica isn't gentle; it's wild. And life then was likely tougher. The picnic becomes a pocket of civilization, a moment of respite snatched from the demands of the landscape. But there’s something beautiful and ephemeral about how the ‘genteel’ picnic-party stands in stark contrast to that… Doesn’t that resonate today? Do we steal time? Editor: Absolutely! It makes you think about how people throughout time crave connection and enjoyment, no matter their circumstances. Curator: Indeed! It's a universal desire framed within a very specific time and place. A thought I’ll cherish! Thank you.