Twee groepsportretten van Loentje en Willy Onnen met vrienden 1911 - 1916

Editor: Here we have two group portraits by Carolina (Loentje) Frederika Onnen, dating from between 1911 and 1916. They are both photographic prints mounted in a book. I’m immediately struck by how casual and intimate these images feel. What do you see in this piece, and how would you interpret it within its historical context? Curator: These images offer a glimpse into the social circles and perhaps even the burgeoning self-awareness of women during the early 20th century. Photography, particularly snapshots like these, provided women with agency to document their own experiences outside of traditionally male-dominated artistic spheres. The first image shows a group of women posed around a bench indoors. Consider the subtle defiance in their gaze – are they consciously subverting the demure, passive representations often imposed upon them? And, how do these portrayals intersect with larger conversations around women's suffrage and changing gender roles at that time? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't considered the element of self-representation so directly. The other photograph shows two people outdoors, perhaps travelling somewhere in white dresses and pith helmets. Does that lend itself to similar theories, despite featuring male sitters as well? Curator: Absolutely. In that second portrait, the adoption of travel gear invites questions of exploration, privilege, and colonialism. Who had the means to travel? How does their self-presentation – in white clothing that would be difficult to keep clean while journeying – reinforce or challenge power dynamics and social hierarchies? Are they active participants in colonial structures, or simply beneficiaries of them? These are vital questions we should continually probe. Editor: It's fascinating to think about these seemingly simple portraits as complex reflections of identity, privilege, and social change. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art reveals its full richness through contextual inquiry. This analysis will keep these portraits in dialogue with both history and our present moment.