From the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar an exhibition dedicated to the 'ladies Vlaanderen'. The charming and eccentric Tonny and Sophie Vlaanderen photographed thousands of Alkmaar's citizens and their families between 1939 and 1972 in their "Oudegracht" or "Old Canal" studio. The sisters gained national prominence later in life, with their performances in television programs and through their frequent strolls in the city. Arm in arm and always dressed immaculately in their customary pastel suits and matching hats. The sisters never had boyfriends, never fell in love and never got married. They lived and worked together all of their lives, even sleeping in the same bed, that of their late parents.
The eldest sister Tonny Vlaanderen (1901-1993) was the photographer and took the lead in the photo studio, Sophie (1905-1995) assisted her and did the housework. If you'd come for a portrait session, you could choose from three options only: bust, elbow or full. The photo backdrop was decorated with attributes, mostly flowers. Small children posed on a sheepskin with a doll or plush dog. Tonny kept a tight rein. Aided by Sophie she carefully directed the attitude and look of those she photographed. The photos were still made the traditional way, with glass negatives (right until the 1960's and 70's). Retouching was done by Tonny Vlaanderen purely by hand, she could devote hours to this art. Wrinkles, pimples and other blemishes were removed with a pencil, photoshop avant la lettre .
The portraits in the exhibition are from the collection of 20,000 to 30,000 glass negatives which Tonny and Sophie Vlaanderen have bequeathed to the Regional Archives of Alkmaar. Unfortunately no paper records exist, because Tonny knew the way through her archive instinctively. Therefore we do not know who the portrayed people are, or when the recordings were made. About 1,500 of the negatives are now available digitally. A selection of these is used in this exhibition. Some negatives are retouched.
Some of the furniture from the sisters' house and studio with just a few of their omnipresent hats - they would never leave home without being "properly dressed", and a hat was part of being properly dressed, always.
The Ladies Vlaanderen - a few of their hats, they would never leave home without being "properly dressed" by newmikey, on Flickr
A few of the portraits on a wall. Visitors are requested to note down names of family or friends they recognize in an attempt to create a paper archive the sisters themselves never saw the need to maintain - they knew every single one of the 20-30000 portraits they made.
The Ladies Vlaanderen - some of the portraits on a wall at the museum by newmikey, on Flickr
The glass plate enlarger used by the sisters:
The Ladies Vlaanderen - enlarger for glass negatives by newmikey, on Flickr
The eldest sister Tonny Vlaanderen (1901-1993) was the photographer and took the lead in the photo studio, Sophie (1905-1995) assisted her and did the housework. If you'd come for a portrait session, you could choose from three options only: bust, elbow or full. The photo backdrop was decorated with attributes, mostly flowers. Small children posed on a sheepskin with a doll or plush dog. Tonny kept a tight rein. Aided by Sophie she carefully directed the attitude and look of those she photographed. The photos were still made the traditional way, with glass negatives (right until the 1960's and 70's). Retouching was done by Tonny Vlaanderen purely by hand, she could devote hours to this art. Wrinkles, pimples and other blemishes were removed with a pencil, photoshop avant la lettre .
The portraits in the exhibition are from the collection of 20,000 to 30,000 glass negatives which Tonny and Sophie Vlaanderen have bequeathed to the Regional Archives of Alkmaar. Unfortunately no paper records exist, because Tonny knew the way through her archive instinctively. Therefore we do not know who the portrayed people are, or when the recordings were made. About 1,500 of the negatives are now available digitally. A selection of these is used in this exhibition. Some negatives are retouched.
Some of the furniture from the sisters' house and studio with just a few of their omnipresent hats - they would never leave home without being "properly dressed", and a hat was part of being properly dressed, always.
The Ladies Vlaanderen - a few of their hats, they would never leave home without being "properly dressed" by newmikey, on Flickr
A few of the portraits on a wall. Visitors are requested to note down names of family or friends they recognize in an attempt to create a paper archive the sisters themselves never saw the need to maintain - they knew every single one of the 20-30000 portraits they made.
The Ladies Vlaanderen - some of the portraits on a wall at the museum by newmikey, on Flickr
The glass plate enlarger used by the sisters:
The Ladies Vlaanderen - enlarger for glass negatives by newmikey, on Flickr