Portret van een onbekende man, vrouw en kind, vermoedelijk een gezin before 1908

Willem Ganter made this photograph of an unknown family in Rotterdam, at some point between the late 19th and early 20th century. I wonder about this family: the father with his impressive moustache and confident gaze, the mother holding herself rigidly, and the child with wide, curious eyes. What were their hopes and dreams? Were they happy? What was it like to sit still while the image was captured, this early form of photographic technology solidifying their existence into the collective consciousness. It is amazing to think about how artists like Willem Ganter have preserved moments in time, offering us a glimpse into the lives of people we would otherwise never know, encouraging conversations across time.