Jubileum AFV Daguerre
Snapshot or art
On 21 February, 1891, ten enthusiastic amateur photographers established the Amateur Photographers’ Association “Daguerre” in Groningen. In 2011 it is the second oldest amateur photography club in The Netherlands: this year it celebrates its 120th birthday. That is reason for the Noorderlicht Photo Gallery to open its doors to them for an anniversary exhibition.
The exhibition Snapshot or Art, assembled from more than 200 photos, devotes extensive attention to the rich history of the Daguerre Association. Exceptional work by illustrious members such as Jos Lange, Wim Tepper, the architect Siebe Jan Bouma and Abraham S. Weinberg has been recovered from various archives. The addition of photographs by the ‘dissidents’ of Pro-zes, who in the early 1970s laboured for renewal within the club, is a striking illustration of the changing social spirit of the times. Moreover, the pearls fished up from the archives provide a stunning picture of the prevailing stylistic tendencies in photography.
Supplemented with paraphernalia and series from the twenty-five current members, the exhibition affords a unique look at the development of amateur photography in the city of Groningen, against the background of the many social and cultural changes of the past 120 years.
In 2011 the Amateur Photographers’ Association Daguerre still offers a place for photographers of all ages, degrees of experience and disciplines. What unites them is their shared passion for photography. Snapshot or Art echoes the discussion that plays an important role at the association’s meetings.