Zeilschepen op een water bij Sneek c. 1905 - 1907

Editor: So, this gelatin-silver print, "Zeilschepen op een water bij Sneek," made by Folkert Idzes de Jong around 1905-1907, it's like stepping back in time. The sepia tone gives it this antique feel, and the sailboats on the water evoke a sense of serenity. What historical context can you share to further explore the piece's origins and what it communicates about the world around it at that time? Curator: The stillness in the photograph is deceptive, I think. While the composition is serene, photographs like this played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of Dutch identity in the early 20th century. Sneek was, and is, of course, part of Friesland. Do you think that, through the aesthetic lens of landscape photography, local identity could be promoted, especially through the rise of tourism? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't considered it as actively promoting Dutch identity or attracting tourists. To me, it felt more like a straightforward depiction of a common scene. Is it possible we're over-interpreting a simple landscape photo? Curator: Perhaps, but consider the rise of nationalist sentiment at the time. These idyllic images could be circulated to foster a sense of national pride, sanitizing local reality to meet idyllic and pastoral tropes. These were, after all, commodities circulated amongst elites and aspiring middle classes who then helped normalize such interpretations of reality. Does understanding photography's historical function change your view? Editor: It really does. I guess I hadn't fully appreciated how even seemingly simple landscapes can be tied to broader cultural and political narratives. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It's a useful lesson, isn't it? To remember that even something as seemingly benign as a photograph can be a powerful tool.