Twee foto's van toeschouwers bij de Varsity, 11 mei 1924 Possibly 1924 - 1925

Hendrik Herman van den Berg made this photographic work, "Twee foto's van toeschouwers bij de Varsity, 11 mei 1924," probably with a camera, on May 11, 1924. These two images are like windows, offering a glimpse into a world that feels both distant and curiously familiar. I wonder what it was like for Van den Berg to capture these moments, framing the crowds gathered to watch the Varsity, an annual rowing race. In the top image, the boat teems with spectators. You can almost feel the energy of the crowd, their anticipation hanging in the air. And in the bottom image, the flags flutter, adding a sense of occasion. I imagine Van den Berg moving through the crowd, searching for the right angle, the perfect composition. Did he realize he was capturing a moment in time that would resonate almost a century later? He probably didn't think of himself as being in conversation with artists of the future. But there he is, his work speaking to us now!