Een Wehrmachtsoldaat rijdt op een ezel Possibly 1941 - 1945

This small, black and white photograph captures a Wehrmacht soldier riding a donkey, snapped by an anonymous photographer. The monochromatic palette brings a sense of directness. The rough texture of the donkey’s hair and the softness of the sandy beach are almost palpable. It’s like you can feel the cool breeze coming off the ocean, even though it’s just a photo. What strikes me is the composition. The soldier, positioned slightly off-center, creates a visual tension. The donkey's ears are erect, suggesting alertness. It’s an odd juxtaposition, a soldier in a position of power riding an animal of burden, and yet there's an undeniable awkwardness to the scene. It reminds me of the work of John Heartfield, whose photomontages critiqued German society. Like Heartfield, this anonymous image uses a simple composition to pose complex questions about power, identity, and the absurdity of war. Art is, after all, an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and questioning the world around us.