Schoolkinderen van Marken in klederdracht c. 1875 - 1910

This is a photograph by Andries Jager, showing schoolchildren from Marken in traditional costume. The image tells us a lot about the Netherlands, the island of Marken, and the public role of photography. The children are all dressed in a recognizable style which indicates they are from Marken, an isolated island community in the Zuiderzee. In the 19th century, distinctive regional costumes became a matter of national pride. However, the image also raises questions about the children's agency. Were they willing participants, or were they coerced into representing a conservative image of Dutch culture? The institutional context also matters. Was this image commissioned by the school or local government? What was Jager’s relationship to the community? These are the kinds of questions that social historians ask to better understand the artwork.