Isabel Wachenheimer zwaaiend op de toegangstrap van een KLM-toestel met onbekende mannen met een hoed 1947 - 1955

This photograph captures Isabel Wachenheimer waving from the steps of a KLM airplane, accompanied by two men in hats, and was taken by an anonymous photographer. Though we don’t know the precise date of this image, the presence of the KLM airplane suggests that it was taken sometime after the company's establishment in the Netherlands in 1919 and before it changed its livery. The photo provides us with a glimpse into the history of commercial aviation and its cultural impact. The act of waving goodbye, a social ritual associated with departures and farewells, adds a personal touch to the scene. The image’s visual codes are pretty straightforward: a woman, likely a passenger, boarding a plane with male companions. But the image also offers a moment to reflect on the historical context of air travel, its evolving social dynamics, and the role of institutions like KLM in shaping these experiences. By consulting archives, personal accounts, and historical documents, we might learn more about the history of commercial aviation and its impact on Dutch society.