Duitse soldaten op de Kaasmarkt Possibly 1940 - 1947

This black and white photograph, "Duitse soldaten op de Kaasmarkt", by Polygoon, captures a specific moment and feeling. It has a kind of rough, immediate quality - like it wants to show you something without any frills. There's a woman in traditional Dutch clothing pinning something on a German soldier. It’s a strange scene; the banality of the setting against the historical weight of the subject matter makes you feel uneasy. I keep looking at the soldier's face as she pins something on him. There’s a little smile, a hint of pride maybe? Then I look at the soldier in the background, who appears less invested in the process. The contrast between the three figures feels loaded with unspoken tension and questions. It reminds me a little of Martha Rosler’s photomontages, which also address the uncomfortable relationship between the domestic and the political. It’s art that doesn't give easy answers, but instead invites us to look, think, and question the world around us.