Gezelschap op een boot, met rechts Karl With 1920 - 1936

This anonymous photograph captures a group of people on a boat, including Karl With. It is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection. This seemingly candid shot likely reflects social dynamics of its time, wherever, whenever that may have been. The photograph itself, as a relatively accessible medium, democratizes the act of portraiture, moving it away from the exclusive realm of painted commissions for the wealthy. This one seems very informal, even amateur. The sitters are casually posed, some smiling, others looking away, and the setting is not a formal studio but a boat. What we see in the image, then, is a moment of leisure among a social group. Understanding the specific cultural context of this photograph would require further research into the individuals depicted, and the possible location and date, drawing on resources like archives, personal letters, and other documentary evidence. Without this context, its meaning remains open, a testament to the ever-present need for historical investigation in interpreting art.