Untitled (Collaborators, St. Tropez, France) 1944

Constance Stuart Larrabee captured this photograph, "Untitled (Collaborators, St. Tropez, France)," using gelatin silver. The composition is stark, focusing on a cluster of figures tightly framed against a textured wall. The tonal range is limited to grayscale, emphasizing the stark contrast between light and shadow. The photograph captures women who collaborated with Nazis during World War II. Their shaved heads and the soldier’s gaze create a tense atmosphere. The tight framing adds to the emotional intensity, compressing the subjects and heightening the viewer's sense of unease. We can read in the photograph a binary relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. But it is the photograph itself that destabilizes this dichotomy. The photograph raises profound questions about justice, retribution, and the lasting scars of war. It is a haunting reminder of the complexities inherent in historical narratives.