Fotoalbum van de familie van Hendrik Herman van den Berg, 1921-1922 1921 - 1922

This is Hendrik Herman van den Berg’s family photo album, dated from 1921-22, with an inscrutable XV on the top left. The green cover is like a landscape in itself, flat but with subtle, shifting textures and hues. Look closely. The texture reminds me of old bookcloths, a tactile landscape inviting touch and exploration. The stamped gold sun motif and the crisp, white lettering give it a formal, almost official feel, yet there’s an undeniable intimacy to the object itself. These subtle material details shape our experience of the album, emphasizing its status as a container for cherished memories. It reminds me a bit of the work of Karl Blossfeldt, who also sought to find the extraordinary in the everyday. Like Blossfeldt’s botanical photographs, this album transforms the ordinary into something precious. Ultimately, this work reminds us that art is an ongoing dialogue, where personal stories intersect with broader cultural narratives, embracing ambiguity and multiple perspectives.