Groepsportret van een onbekende familie 1882 - 1910

This photograph, taken by C. Dumesnil et Cie., captures an unknown family in a formal pose, a tableau of societal expectations. Note the chair, an object that signifies status, and the careful arrangement of bodies, each element telling a story. This arrangement evokes a sense of stability, a family unit anchored in time. But consider the recurring motif of the doll, clutched by the child: it echoes the ancient symbol of the 'kourotrophos', the nurturing goddess. These figures – from ancient terracotta statues to Renaissance paintings of the Madonna – represent not just motherhood but also protection and continuity. What is fascinating is how this archetype shifts. Here, the doll becomes an intimate, personal symbol, a representation of childhood innocence and a tangible link across generations. The careful composure of the family is perhaps meant to mask the ever present fear that the family unit will be fragmented by the tides of time. This photograph, therefore, becomes a powerful memento mori, a reminder of our fleeting existence.