Vier gezichten op de kust van Biarritz - Charlotte Alida Boelen-Matthes

A collection of four vintage photographic prints documenting the Biarritz coastline in 1911, captured by Charlotte Alida Boelen-Matthes.

This collection of four photographic prints, captured in January 1911, documents the coastal scenery of Biarritz from the perspective of a traveller. Charlotte Alida Boelen-Matthes, known as Lot, compiled these images within a personal album, providing a glimpse into early twentieth-century leisure travel. The photographs focus on the Atlantic coastline, capturing the interaction between the sea and the rocky outcrops characteristic of the region.

Each frame offers a distinct vantage point, including views from hotel windows and terraces. The handwritten annotations in Dutch provide context for each scene, identifying specific locations such as the Palace Hotel and the Phare. The monochromatic palette reflects the photographic technology of the era, emphasising the textures of the crashing waves and the atmospheric conditions of the winter season.

As a historical record, these images offer insight into the social habits of the period, where photography served as a primary method for documenting personal journeys. The composition of the album page itself, with its uniform arrangement of square prints, suggests a deliberate approach to visual storytelling. The work functions as a primary source for understanding the aesthetic of early amateur photography, where the focus remained on capturing the essence of a location rather than artistic manipulation. The prints remain in their original context, preserving the handwritten notes that link the visual experience to the specific time and place of their creation.