Studioportret van een vier mannen in een roeiboot c. 1905 - 1915

Jacobus Marinus van der Peijl created this photographic studio portrait of four men in a rowboat without a date. It has a sepia tone that gives it an old-timey feel. I just love how old photographs tell such a story, and so much is left to the imagination. The four fellows in the boat are dressed in their finest suits and hats. They look a little awkward, like they don’t usually row boats. I wonder if they are friends, or family, or just posing for a picture? It makes you think about how they're trying to project an image. The water is murky and unclear, and the background is trees, creating a backdrop that separates them from reality. Are they really in a boat or imagining life on the water? When you look at old photos, you start to see this kind of staged photography everywhere. You can see the artist's hand in creating a sense of drama, like a play. This portrait reminds me that making art is about creating a world, constructing a reality, and inviting people in.