Groepsfoto van studenten met muziekinstrumenten, waaronder François Buys met dirigentstok, achter hem zijn broer Anton en helemaal rechts Evert Verschuyl c. 1880 - 1887

Albert Greiner took this group photograph of students with musical instruments in the Netherlands sometime in the late 19th century. It’s a charming depiction of leisure amongst young men, likely members of a student music society. Group portraits like this tell us much about social structures. The men are dressed in similar, respectable attire, signaling middle-class status and perhaps a shared educational background. Musical societies in the Netherlands have a long history as important social and cultural institutions, especially among the middle class. Music-making provided opportunities for community building and self-improvement. The conductor's baton held by François Buys symbolizes leadership within the group. But the playful poses also suggest a challenge to the rigid social conventions of the time. Understanding the nuances of this image requires historical context, and delving into archives of student associations can give a sense of the role of the arts in shaping social identities.