Slaapkamer 1890 - 1910

Otto Hisgen made this photograph, titled Slaapkamer, or bedroom, at an unknown date. It offers us a fascinating glimpse into the domestic life of its time. Looking closely, we see more than just a room; we see a staged scene. The photograph hints at the cultural values placed on privacy, comfort, and perhaps, social status, reflected in the room's furnishings and arrangement. Made in a period of significant social change, the photograph invites us to consider how spaces like these were perceived, maintained, and presented to the outside world. What class of people had the leisure to arrange their rooms in such a way? How does the image respond to, or reinforce, existing ideas about propriety and domestic space? As historians, we can turn to sources like architectural records, social diaries, and material culture studies to better understand the social and cultural context of this image, further enriching our understanding of everyday life in the past.