Groepsportret van de familie Piek 1889 - 1893

This is a photograph of the Piek family, taken by Johanna Margaretha Piek, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Photographs like this one offer a fascinating insight into the social context of the time. Photography had become more accessible, but it was still a considered act, requiring specific equipment and expertise. The tonal range and subtle details of the subjects' clothing convey both the aesthetic preferences and socio-economic status of the family. Consider the labor involved in producing the garments worn by the family members. The textiles, the tailoring, the lace, all speak to a network of production and consumption. The photograph is a material artifact, produced through chemical processes, and speaks to a rapidly changing world of industry, labor, and representation. Looking at this group portrait, we can see how even a seemingly simple photograph is embedded with layers of social meaning, artistic intention, and material history.