Portret van A. van Duursen, K. Scholtens, G.M. Bolderdijk en L. Hahn 1928

This photograph, made by an anonymous artist, captures A. van Duursen, K. Scholtens, G.M. Bolderdijk and L. Hahn at a Los Angeles train station. It's incredible how a simple range of blacks, whites, and grays can evoke a sense of time and place. The photograph itself is a physical object with texture. Imagine the darkroom where the image slowly emerged in the developing tray. You can almost smell the chemicals. Look at the subtle variations in tone; the way light reflects off the men’s hats. Each man has their own, carefully chosen, suit. The process of making a photograph is not unlike painting. Both involve layering, composition, and a decision-making process of what to include and exclude. What does it mean to record a moment, to hold onto a memory? In this piece, the act of documentation transcends its function and becomes art. I’m reminded of the work of Sophie Calle, who also uses photography to explore themes of memory and absence. The beauty of art lies in its ability to ask questions rather than provide answers.