Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong en een andere vrouw in een tuin, Londen 1934

Curator: This black and white photograph, taken in 1934, is titled "Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong en een andere vrouw in een tuin, Londen"— "Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong and Another Woman in a Garden, London." It captures a moment frozen in time. Editor: It's quiet, isn’t it? A gentle echo from the past. They seem at ease amidst that very structured garden. I wonder if they cultivated it themselves. The shapes of the shrubs create a very calming effect in the frame, don’t they? Curator: It speaks volumes about the burgeoning roles of women in the early 20th century. We see these figures deliberately framed, almost claiming ownership of the outdoor space. It would be interesting to delve into who they were and their position in society at the time the picture was captured. Editor: You're right—there’s a quiet strength. It almost reads as a still life, placing importance to the simple moments of women together. It evokes the beauty of domestic tranquility. I also appreciate the monochromatic nature of the image. Black and white strips away the immediate and leaves only the shape, the tone, the light. Curator: Consider the wider context. In 1934, society was shifting after the first world war. The garden setting could also represent escapism, retreat, the ability to construct their own little world as global tensions mounted. Editor: Yes, there is a sense of constructed calm here! I’m completely transported by that notion, of this little self-made haven offering reprieve, not just for these women, but metaphorically to society at large! A subtle rebellion perhaps. Curator: The way they present themselves is also important; dignified and quietly confident. Photography had the power to reflect and shape identity. A moment in history recorded to give voice to everyday experience, far from the staged pomp that defined older portraiture. Editor: Thank you! I leave it wanting to find the stories of all the Wilhelmina's from different periods, who were reclaiming calm, beauty and each other's company as resistance to external turbulence. Curator: An introspective glance at Wilhelmina's time captured as she stood calmly amongst manicured nature. Editor: Exactly; a garden, not just as earth, but as an escape, or even, quiet protest in monochromatic form.