Henk van den Berg op de motor met zijn zoon Cay achterop bij huize Bergerac c. 1912 - 1920

Curator: What a serene image, it's so touching to witness such raw family connections captured in this sepia-toned moment. It seems so innocent, like the world isn't in complete chaos just yet... Editor: It does have that dreamlike quality, doesn’t it? Almost nostalgic. Before we dive into feels, though, we're looking at a photograph, likely taken between 1912 and 1920, titled "Henk van den Berg op de motor met zijn zoon Cay achterop bij huize Bergerac," that loosely translates to, "Henk van den Berg on the motorcycle with his son Cay on the back, near Bergerac house." I’m assuming Bergerac being their home. It is an idyllic landscape. What grabs me is how the architecture and greenery meld together seamlessly in this era, giving us insights into the class and status of families in that region. Curator: The house is certainly a quiet statement; there's something solid and permanent about its presence. You know what also gets me? The bike looks like something out of a child’s fairytale: charming but ever so slightly dangerous. You wouldn't want to break down in the middle of nowhere in this thing! Editor: Speaking of breakdowns, the motorcycle is an early symbol of social change, no? Here’s this photograph positioned neatly at the intersection of leisure, class, and rapid modernization. Transportation has always served as a sort of freedom, particularly at this moment in history. This picture embodies the accessibility that technology promised... yet seemingly reserved for those with generational wealth. Curator: And even though it's progress and a promise of liberation, you have to wonder how aware they were of all the trade-offs. Loss of connection to land. Overconsumption of resources. You get the feeling that dad and son are just blissfully enjoying a leisurely ride; how beautiful is that? Ignorance is indeed bliss, eh? Editor: True! But it is also the historian’s curse to only see things through the grim lens of politics, progress, and consequence! It's beautiful to see a casual, everyday moment documented and how photographs allowed families, especially wealthier ones, to record these otherwise impermanent scenes, and disseminate images of a bourgeois idyll. It's a really fantastic image to reflect on. Curator: I am in agreement! And now I want a vintage motorbike! A girl can dream, eh?