Joan Boelen op een eiland bij Marstrand - Charlotte Alida Boelen-Matthes

A collection of four vintage gelatin silver prints documenting a trip to the Swedish island of Marstrand, captured by Charlotte Alida Boelen-Matthes.

This archival document presents a collection of four gelatin silver prints mounted on a grey album page. The photographs capture the Swedish coastal environment near Marstrand, documenting the personal travels of Joan Boelen. The composition of the page reflects the amateur photography practices of the early twentieth century, where personal albums functioned as visual diaries of family life and leisure.

The images depict various aspects of the island setting. Two frames focus on the rugged terrain, featuring stone walls and wild grasses, while the remaining two frames show the calm waters surrounding the island. One image includes a small rowing boat, providing a sense of scale against the expansive, quiet water. The handwritten inscription in Dutch, 'Op 't eiland tegenover Marstrand' (On the island opposite Marstrand), identifies the location and provides context for the series.

Charlotte Alida Boelen-Matthes, known as Lot, was an amateur photographer whose work offers a glimpse into the domestic and travel experiences of her social circle. The prints are mounted using traditional corner tabs, a common method for preserving photographs in albums during this period. The aesthetic is documentary in nature, prioritising the recording of place and experience over formal artistic experimentation. The muted tones and natural light captured in these small-format prints provide a quiet, observational record of the Swedish archipelago. This piece is a historical artefact, preserving a specific moment in time through the lens of a private observer.