Eugen Wachenheimer als jongeman met twee onbekende mannen buiten onder aan afdakking, 1906-1926 1906 - 1926

This vintage photograph, dating from between 1906 and 1926, captures Eugen Wachenheimer as a young man, posed with two unidentified men. The photographic process itself is key here, and invites reflection on the labour and social practices involved in early 20th-century photography. Each element of the image represents specific choices, from the sitters' garments, the architecture, and their poses. The clothing and ornamentation of these figures speaks volumes about their social class, while the backdrop hints at the economic structures in which they were embedded. Photographs like this were a material commodity, produced in studios and then circulated among families and friends. These small cards were often collected in albums, and were important cultural objects. By focusing on the material processes, from the darkroom to the album, we can appreciate how even a seemingly simple photograph is deeply entwined with labour, politics, and consumption, blurring the lines between art, craft, and everyday life.