Koninklijke familie in de arrenslee, januari 1940 Possibly 1940 - 1941

Editor: Here we have "Koninklijke familie in de arrenslee, januari 1940," or "The Royal Family in a Sleigh, January 1940," possibly from 1940-41. It's an albumen print photograph currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The print itself, and the details it captures – the fur, the ornate sleigh – makes me think about the labour involved in maintaining royal life, even in wartime. What stands out to you? Curator: What I see here is less about the individuals portrayed, and more about the means of representation and the social context from which this image arises. Consider the material reality: albumen prints were a specific technology, demanding certain skills and resources. Editor: So you're saying that it's not really about the Royal Family, but more about how the photo came to be in the first place? Curator: Precisely. Focus on the “how”. The materiality of photography itself reflects a system – consider access to materials during wartime, or even who possessed the knowledge and the equipment. The very act of creating this image is an indicator of power. Who produced this, and what did their labour look like? What does an albumen print convey about social class and industrial progress during that historical moment? Editor: So it shifts the focus away from the romanticized image of royalty and towards the labour, the social dynamics of photographic production, and how it reflects inequality... Curator: Exactly. Even the choice of an albumen print, a process already becoming somewhat antiquated, could signal a deliberate connection to established traditions in photography while subtly underscoring power and prestige. How fascinating. Editor: I never thought of it that way; to really think about the photo itself, as an object and reflection of those complex networks is incredibly insightful! Thanks!