Groepsportret op het verlovingsfeest van Wim Heskes en Betsy van Bergen 1933 - 1937

This small photograph, 'Groepsportret op het verlovingsfeest van Wim Heskes en Betsy van Bergen', captures a group of people, all squeezed together, probably to fit into frame. I guess the making of the photograph was an event in itself. The monochromatic palette pushes us to think about tone and texture. Look at how the light catches the different fabrics; the soft floral dress, the crisp white shirts, the groom’s dark suit. You can almost feel the difference in your fingertips. And then there's the lace edge of the photo itself, the only decorative element in the composition. I’m drawn to the face peeking out from behind the group; a mischievous, maybe slightly drunk, guest, caught in the moment. It reminds me of Weegee, another photographer of unposed moments. All art is a conversation, and in this case, that conversation is about spontaneity and the beauty of ordinary life.