Straatgezicht met een lopende jongen c. 1895 - 1903

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler captured this gelatin silver print, “Straatgezicht met een lopende jongen,” sometime in the early 20th century, presenting us with a seemingly simple street scene. Yet, within its monochromatic tones lies a wealth of social and cultural information. The architecture suggests a European town, possibly in the Netherlands, Kessler's homeland, or perhaps Germany or Switzerland. The presence of a young boy, seemingly the focal point, raises questions about childhood and social mobility during this period. Was Kessler, who came from an wealthy family, making a comment on class, or the everyday lives of working-class children? To fully understand the image, we might turn to archives of urban planning, social surveys of childhood, or even photographic journals from the period. These resources would help us to better understand the social conditions that shaped not only Kessler's artistic vision, but also the very world he chose to capture. Art is so often a mirror, reflecting the values and structures of its time.