Drie vrouwen in bontjassen in de haven, Rotterdam Possibly 1934

This black and white photograph shows three women in fur coats in the port of Rotterdam, we don't know who took it, or when. There is something about this photograph that seems both elegant and vulnerable, it feels like a memory fading. Look at the texture. The fur looks so soft, luxurious, and warm against the hard, cold dock and water behind them. You can almost feel the contrast between the rough brickwork beneath their feet and the plush fur collars, which creates a tension, a push and pull. The light in the photograph is flat and diffuse, which makes the outlines of the women softer as if they are blending into the background. It is almost as if they are sinking into the mist. There is something about the anonymity of this picture that stays with me. It reminds me of the work of photographers like Helen van Meene, who photograph ordinary people in a way that elevates them to a kind of iconic status. Just like this photograph, these artists demonstrate how beauty can be found in the everyday.