Schoolfoto op meisjesschool, rechtsvoor Charlotte A Matthes 1880 - 1900

Curator: Here we have an intriguing photograph from the Rijksmuseum’s collection, entitled “Schoolfoto op meisjesschool, rechtsvoor Charlotte A Matthes,” which translates to "School Photo at a Girls' School, Charlotte A Matthes in the Front Right," dating from around 1880 to 1900. Editor: Wow, it has a dreamy quality. A sea of faces, all serious, peering out from the past. A little spooky but undeniably human. What strikes me is the soft focus—makes it feel like a half-remembered memory. Curator: Indeed. The softness contributes to that sense of a bygone era. School photography, particularly of girls, in the late 19th century, presents us with layered narratives about the social expectations and the shaping of young women's identities within institutional frameworks. Editor: So, are you thinking about prescribed roles, societal constraints? It definitely hits you. The rigidity of their posture; very little rebellion in those eyes. But you can't help but wonder what they're thinking. So much hidden behind those neutral expressions, surely? Curator: Exactly. Analyzing such images, we can explore the power dynamics within these schools. What forms of knowledge were considered valuable for these young women, what kinds of futures were envisioned for them? Gender roles are prominent in this staging, which suggests photography’s use in solidifying cultural expectations. The teacher even, looks like he doesn't belong in their reality. Editor: He looks a little severe for sure. I’m thinking he needs to smile a little, and I get why it’s missing though! Even in sepia, their individuality strains to be seen. The texture of their clothes, the way light falls across their faces—details betraying a lively interior life. Almost defiant? It gives me such a strange sense of longing. To understand what life was like then, not just intellectually, but really *feel* it. Curator: I think your intuitive response connects to something quite profound, that although these girls existed within social constraints, the image also bears testament to their quiet perseverance and inherent humanity. These visual artefacts can inform and challenge our understanding of gender, class, and social change in education during that period. Editor: A photograph captures a frozen moment in time; however it evokes so much that unfurls. A doorway into a hundred personal dramas, aspirations and fears all swirling into something that I want to create art from. Curator: Absolutely, it prompts contemplation on the legacy of those past lives and the ways they reverberate in our own contemporary experiences. Editor: Yes, this makes me want to call my best girlfriend right now. Thank you!