Een scène uit het toneelstuk 'Wat Jonas overkwam' Possibly 1936

Editor: Here we have a gelatin-silver print, a photograph from around 1936 by Fotobureau Stevens, called "Een sc\u00e8ne uit het toneelstuk 'Wat Jonas overkwam'." The title is intriguing; what I see is this very still, posed shot of what appears to be a palm reading. There's something very melancholic in their expressions. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: You know, melancholic is spot-on. It’s almost like the future they’re trying to glimpse holds more shadow than light, don't you think? I keep coming back to their hands. See how they’re not quite touching, there is a certain separation between them even if they are seated together on the sofa. This simple gesture tells so much. Do you know much about Dutch theatre of this period? It was an interesting mix of escapism and social commentary, quite turbulent as the war approached. Does it spark any associations for you, thinking about that context? Editor: It does actually, thinking of pre-war Europe definitely adds another layer. The slight detachment makes more sense now, it’s like a subtle foreshadowing of what’s to come. It almost feels voyeuristic, peering into their uncertainty. Curator: Voyeuristic, yes! A perfect way to describe that sensation. And do you get the sense that this one image could almost be an entire play, or short story, condensed into a single moment? That’s what really grabs me – the narrative possibilities hinted at. Editor: I agree! It’s making me wonder about the play itself. I think I need to look that up and dig into this photograph some more, the details really come alive when you start digging. Curator: Wonderful. Sometimes, isn’t it, that initial spark is all you need to uncover an entirely new world, which I'm certain is exactly how theater folks hope to have their work seen and known.