Optocht NSB 1936 - 1937

This small black and white photograph, entitled "Optocht NSB," lives here at the Rijksmuseum, made by an anonymous artist. It’s a pretty straight-up shot – a procession, captured in that decisive moment. You can almost hear the rhythmic thud of boots on the pavement. The photographer, whoever they were, wasn't messing around. They framed this scene with a stark, documentary eye. What was it like to witness this scene through their lens, the weight of history pressing down? They're thinking about composition, light, and shadow, but also, what this moment means, what it represents. I wonder if they ever imagined that this small document would end up in a museum, a silent witness to a dark chapter. It’s a reminder that every image, no matter how small, holds a story.