Willem Witsen c. 1860 - 1915

Editor: This is a gelatin silver print from around 1860-1915, a portrait of Willem Witsen held at the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by the stark contrast in the photo and how it captures this man's...reserved demeanor. What's your interpretation of it? Curator: For me, this photograph prompts questions about the technology used to create it and the social circumstances surrounding its creation. We see a "gentleman" in formal attire posed with what appears to be an original artwork just visible over his left shoulder. It raises questions about access: who had the financial capital to commission a portrait and an artwork in the late 19th century? Who were the laborers involved in producing the materials: the silver for the gelatin print, the fabric for his suit? What do those commodities represent? Editor: So, it's less about Witsen himself, and more about...the system that allowed for this image to exist? Curator: Exactly. The very materials, the silver gelatin process, connect the artwork to global systems of extraction, manufacturing, and trade. How does the materiality of the photograph affect its interpretation and our own participation in commodity consumption today? How does that photograph survive within an institution today, such as the Rijksmuseum? Editor: I never really thought about how the raw materials shaped the artistic narrative and social commentary... it feels like there's more to see in this than meets the eye. Curator: Absolutely! It reminds us to look beyond the surface and to consider art within a broader context of material production and the economic implications related to production of commodities.