Twee foto's van de Varsity en Carel Frederik en Frank Willem van den Berg in Laren Possibly 1924 - 1925

Hendrik Herman van den Berg's photographic work presents two distinct scenes, each capturing a moment frozen in time. The upper photograph documents the Varsity rowing race of May 1914, filled with boats and festive flags, the lower, shows two figures, Carel Frederik and Frank Willem van den Berg, relaxing in a field in Laren. The contrast between the public spectacle of the race and the private repose of the two figures is striking, which invites a structural analysis of their relationship. The composition is bisected, creating a diptych that juxtaposes action and stillness. The sepia tones unify the two images, yet they also highlight the differing textures and forms: the dynamic lines of the boats against the soft, organic shapes of the landscape. These photographs function semiotically, encoding social rituals and personal relationships within the same frame. The orderly, organized race, versus the casual, unstructured pose of the figures, represents a complex interplay between public performance and private life, inviting us to reflect on how such oppositions structure our understanding of the world.