Vriendengroep met Loentje Onnen, tijdens een fietstocht en in een boot 1911 - 1912

Editor: Here we have, "Vriendengroep met Loentje Onnen, tijdens een fietstocht en in een boot" which translates to "Group of friends with Loentje Onnen, during a bike ride and in a boat," a series of photographs taken around 1911 or 1912. They seem like snapshots of a simpler time, but they feel very formally composed and I think that is part of what makes them so charming. What strikes you about these images? Curator: You know, looking at this, I am struck by the way the artist uses photography to capture not just a moment, but a feeling – a wistful glance back at simpler pleasures, almost like little stories are encapsulated in each frame, you know? Notice how each photograph captures the essence of companionship and adventure – a group bicycle ride under a summer sky. I wonder, do you think it romanticizes that bygone era at all? Editor: I definitely agree that there's a rosy tint to them, an almost postcard quality, like a fond memory. Curator: Absolutely. There is also a real depth to this set of photographs. The attention to light, the tonal range. This feels very intimate, it is almost a page ripped straight out of a family photo album from over a century ago. Almost daring to step back in time, does that make any sense? Editor: Yes, the composition is casual but there is a very dream-like aesthetic in its soft focus. Curator: And there is this tension, isn’t there, between capturing reality and creating something undeniably beautiful. In today’s hyper-detailed digital world, do you think there’s a sense of magic that gets lost sometimes, compared to the deliberate beauty of early photography? Editor: That’s a great point. The imperfections in the photographs in themselves give the image that raw charm, compared to digital images. I really didn’t notice the imperfections the first time! Thanks! Curator: You know, art, isn't it all about perspective. Looking, seeing, but then, more importantly: feeling.