Prentbriefkaart aan Willem Bogtman Possibly 1923

This postcard depicting the Chateau de Chillon and the Dents du Midi was produced by Henriëtte Roland Holst-van der Schalk sometime in the early 20th century. Roland Holst was a Dutch poet and socialist, and her choice of subject matter here connects to the rising tide of tourism and the social dynamics that came with it. The Chateau de Chillon, a medieval castle on Lake Geneva in Switzerland, had become a popular destination for travellers by this time. The image evokes a sense of romanticism and escape, aligning with the bourgeois desire for leisure and exploration. But, it also raises questions about access and privilege. Who could afford to travel and experience these sites, and what were the implications for the local communities encountering these tourists? Was Roland Holst aware of the subtle politics of such a depiction? To fully understand this image, one might delve into the history of tourism, class structures, and the artist's own political leanings. It reminds us that even seemingly benign images can reveal complex social dynamics when viewed through a historical lens.