Portret van drie onbekende mannen c. 1894 - 1922

Editor: This is a fascinating photo, a portrait of three unknown men by Johan Christoffel Goethals, dating somewhere between 1894 and 1922. It’s sepia-toned, and they're all dressed so formally. It makes me wonder about their social standing, you know? What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: What immediately grabs my attention is the very materiality of the photograph itself. Consider the paper stock, the printing process – albumen or gelatin silver, perhaps? – and how these factors contributed to its survival. The fading, the scratches; these aren’t flaws but historical markers, indicators of use and circulation. The very *stuff* of the photograph speaks to its past. Editor: So you are looking at it almost as an object? I never thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly. The studio backdrop, the men’s clothing - the suits themselves. Think about the tailors who crafted these garments, the textile mills producing the fabric, the global trade networks that brought these materials together. These details weren't accidental, they speak to class and industrial production. This portrait isn't just about likeness; it's a record of material culture and economic activity. Editor: That’s a perspective shift for me! So it goes beyond the individuals portrayed and touches on broader societal structures? Curator: Precisely! What’s striking is how photography, once a novel technology, became deeply intertwined with the construction and maintenance of social hierarchies. Consider, too, who had access to portraiture and the ways in which they chose to present themselves. Editor: I never would have connected a simple photo to something so profound! Curator: It is an exciting part of interpreting material! We look not just *at* the image but *through* it.