Zwembad by Anonymous

c. 1935 - 1936

Zwembad

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Curatorial notes

This is a series of photographic snapshots assembled to record social life around a swimming pool. The motif of diving is prominent here, as a symbol of courage and transition. These images, captured by an anonymous hand, remind us of the human impulse to mark time and celebrate community. It is a ritual as old as time, evident even in ancient Egyptian tombs, where scenes of daily life were carefully documented. The act of diving from a height carries echoes of Icarus, an act of daring that tests human limits. The image of the pool evokes not only cleanliness but also the mythological waters, the source of life and rebirth. The act of entering this symbolic realm speaks to our innate desire to cleanse and rejuvenate, to cast off the burdens of the everyday. It transcends time, resurfacing with each generation seeking solace and recreation in the embrace of water.