Bij ontslag, 3 weken na de hechting. 1929

This photograph comes from the Hospitaal Batak Instituut and was taken in 1929. It’s a portrait of a man, Kedit, who is about 20 years old. The photo is titled "Bij ontslag, 3 weken na de hechting" which roughly translates to "Upon discharge, 3 weeks after the sutures." I wonder about Kedit, about the story held within this image. What were the circumstances that brought him to the hospital, and what kind of healing did he undergo? There's a vulnerability in the image, yet also a resilience in his eyes. The composition is so simple, so direct, that it feels like a raw, unfiltered moment. It makes me consider how medical photography serves as a record of both suffering and recovery. I can't help but think about the ways in which we document our own journeys—the scars we bear, both visible and invisible, and the stories they tell.