Groepsportret van de familie Kessler op het bordes van Landgoed De Paauw c. 1913

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler created this silver gelatin print titled, "Group Portrait of the Kessler Family on the steps of Estate De Paauw." The composition, with its grayscale palette, captures a family arranged on a grand staircase. The figures create a rigid structure, their placement carefully orchestrated to convey status and familial bonds. Note how the steps form a series of horizontal lines, intersected by the verticality of the figures, dividing the composition into layered sections. The interplay of light and shadow adds depth, emphasizing the textures of the clothing and the architectural details. The muted tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, inviting us to consider the photograph's historical context. The way Kessler has framed the group against the backdrop of their estate can be seen as a statement of social identity. The photograph, therefore, serves not just as a record, but as a deliberate construction of meaning.