Interieur van het atelier van Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn in Rome c. 1860 - 1862

Sommer & Behles created this photographic image titled "Interieur van het atelier van Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn in Rome" (Interior of the studio of Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn in Rome), using a glass negative. The image invites us into the workspace of an artist, likely in the mid-to-late 19th century, an era of burgeoning artistic communities and the professionalization of art. The scene presents a curated chaos: canvases lean against walls, a classical bust perches on a table, and various tools and artworks jostle for space. The artist's studio was more than a place of work; it was a stage upon which identities were crafted and performed. The classical bust isn't just decoration; it's a nod to the artistic traditions, and the aspirations of the artist. The photograph is a record of this performance, capturing the artist's carefully constructed persona. This image reveals the artist's studio as a space of both labor and identity. As we look at the objects, we are invited to imagine the artist at work, and perhaps, to reflect on the spaces where we, too, construct our identities.