Leerlingen van Schule Schloss Salem tijdens een dramatische uitvoering in de openlucht c. 1929

This photograph, showing students in a dramatic performance outdoors, captures a specific moment in time. It’s anonymous, so we don’t know the artist’s intent, but the black and white tones give it a timeless quality. The composition is fascinating. Look at how the bodies are arranged. They remind me of classical sculptures, like a frieze come to life. Their movements are frozen in time, creating a sense of tension. The light and shadow add depth, almost as if the artist was sculpting with light. What I find interesting is how the photo hints at something beyond the visual, beyond the single gesture or expression. You might even consider the movement as a whole as one large brush stroke. Perhaps this is because the theatricality of the performance is so clear in their movements. The theatricality creates a bridge to another artist like Oskar Schlemmer. His "Triadisches Ballett" explores similar themes of movement, form, and the human body. Both use simplified shapes to create a sense of rhythm and energy.