Groepsportret van (vermoedelijk) een studentengenootschap tijdens een diner c. 1895 - 1910

Nicolaas Schuitvlot made this photograph of a probable student association during dinner, though the date remains uncertain. It's fascinating to imagine what it must have been like for Schuitvlot to set up this shot, getting everyone to pose just so, with their glasses raised, trying to capture a moment of conviviality. It feels so staged, yet I can't help but wonder about the real dynamics between these individuals. I am particularly drawn to the way the light falls across the table, catching the glint of the glasses and silverware. The composition feels almost theatrical, with the figures arranged like actors on a stage. I wonder if Schuitvlot was influenced by other group portraits or paintings, and if he saw photography as a way to engage with those historical modes of representation. Photography is like painting, in that it is a conversation across time and practice. Every artist builds on what came before, adding their voice to this ongoing dialogue. It is a wonderful thing to feel connected to that tradition.