Dimensions: height 83 mm, width 55 mm, height 302 mm, width 146 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This group portrait commemorating a bicycle tour on April 1, 1902, was created by Eugène Jean Joseph Groeneveld. The photograph's sepia tones imbue it with a sense of nostalgia, while its composition invites us to consider the social dynamics captured within. The arrangement of figures, some standing and others seated around a bicycle, creates a structured yet informal tableau. Groeneveld skillfully uses the bicycle as a focal point, around which the subjects cluster, linking technology and social interaction. Each figure's attire and pose contribute to a broader narrative about early 20th-century social customs and the emerging culture of leisure. The photograph also plays with semiotic codes, using clothing and props to signal social status and personal identity. The bicycle itself becomes a signifier of modernity, suggesting themes of progress and freedom. Ultimately, this artwork provides insight into a specific historical moment. It invites ongoing interpretation of its visual and cultural signs.
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