Portret van Irene With en een onbekende vrouw op een bank in Amsterdam 1950 - 1967

This small black and white photograph captures Irene With and an unknown woman sitting on a bench in Amsterdam. Though the artist is unknown, the image itself speaks volumes through its materials. The photograph, a product of chemical processes and mass production, records a seemingly mundane moment. Yet, it encapsulates a specific era and social context. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider population beyond the elite who could afford painted portraits. The image's grainy texture and tonal range evoke a sense of nostalgia, typical of the photographic medium. The way it freezes a fleeting moment in time also creates a sense of timelessness. By understanding photography's role in documenting and shaping our perceptions of everyday life, we can appreciate its significance beyond the surface image. It prompts us to question the politics of the gaze, and the power dynamics inherent in image-making.