Groepsportret van Willem Carel van der Kop en onbekende mensen met een kat in een achtertuin c. 1900 - 1910

This sepia-toned photograph captures Willem Carel van der Kop, some unknown folks, and a cat, all assembled in a backyard. I can only imagine what it was like for G. Jan Niekerk, the photographer, trying to arrange this group. Look at the way they’re all positioned—some seated, others standing. Even the cat looks slightly bemused, doesn’t it? The limited color palette really focuses your attention on the textures and details of their clothing. It's clear that there's a formality to the shot, but there's also a sense of everyday life happening, with a touch of humor thanks to that cat. It reminds me of some of the early portrait work that Manet and Degas were doing—capturing people in these in-between moments. Photographs like this are like little time capsules—slices of life that allow us to reflect on the past, connecting it to the present. It is an expression, not fixed and stable, but rather a constant flow of feelings, thoughts, and impressions.