Feestelijke gebeurtenis met een Duitse militair Possibly 1942

These black and white photographs by P. Brandsma capture what is called, in Dutch, "Feestelijke gebeurtenis met een Duitse militair" – a festive event with a German soldier. I can imagine the artist wanting to capture a moment of celebration or maybe document the nuances of social interactions during wartime. I think of the emotional weight behind the images and sympathize with Brandsma’s position as both observer and recorder. The contrast between the soft, almost romantic arrangement of flowers and the figure of the soldier can be interpreted in many ways; it is this tension that resonates with me. Looking at these images, I wonder about the artist's process. Were they carefully composing these scenes, or capturing candid moments? There’s a rawness in the images that suggests a desire to record events as they unfolded. I also wonder if Brandsma was thinking of other artists dealing with similar themes and how visual ideas are exchanged across time and place.