Behind Glass (Dutch: Achter Glas) was Johan van der Keuken’s second photobook, created at just 19 years old. It followed his debut We Are 17 (Dutch: Wij Zijn 17), both of which focus on adolescence during a period when the concept of "teenagehood" was still novel in the 1950s. The project reflects his attention to capturing the emotional states of his subjects, specifically two sisters, Georgette and Yvonne, as they idly sit by a window. With its contemplative and understated narrative, Behind Glass resonates as both a portrait of individual lives and a reflection of a cultural moment.
The book emerges during the burgeoning awareness of a distinct youth identity in the 1950s, a time when teenagers were gaining visibility as a social group with unique concerns and sensibilities. Van der Keuken taps into this zeitgeist with a thoughtful approach, capturing a phase of life characterized by introspection and quiet rebellion. The sisters' languid poses and pensive gazes epitomize a transitional moment—an interlude between adolescence and adulthood marked by uncertainty.
Visually, Behind Glass captures a quiet aesthetic through its use of natural light and intimate framing. Van der Keuken’s choice of black-and-white photography enhances the reflective tone of the work, stripping away distractions to focus on mood and meaning. The recurring motif of the window adds depth, serving as both a physical barrier and a metaphor for introspection, separation, and longing. The sisters' expressions, softened by filtered light, evoke a delicate melancholy, while subtle reflections in the glass hint at layered identities and unseen emotions.
Technically, van der Keuken demonstrates a precise and deliberate approach, emphasizing storytelling through visual restraint. With a Rolleicord camera, he creates a balance between formal structure and emotional nuance. His photographs go beyond simple documentation, inviting viewers to explore subtle details in gesture, light, and texture. This approach embodies his broader philosophy of photography as a contemplative art form that explores time, space, and emotion through the still frame.
Issued by C. de Boer Jr. (Amsterdam, 1957) and later in a paperback edition (1961), Behind Glass has been canonized in photobook histories and revisited in major presentations such as Johan van der Keuken, Photographe (Jeu de Paume, 2018–19) and the Nederlands Fotomuseum’s survey of his legacy (2022).
