Groepsportret van verkozen leerlingen van Schule Schloss Salem c. 1929

This black and white photograph depicts a group portrait of selected students from Schule Schloss Salem. The process of photography, like any artmaking, involves choices: what to include, what to exclude, what to emphasize. This image presents a very particular view of youth and education. The tonal range, from light grays to deeper blacks, gives a rich sense of texture to the ivy-covered building behind, and to the clothing of the students. Look closely at the way the light falls on their faces, creating subtle variations in tone and shadow. The group is arranged in neat rows, conveying order and discipline. Yet, within this structure, each student has a distinct expression, a unique presence. See the way one boy seems to stare, unblinking, at the viewer. Think about the tradition of portraiture, and how artists like Thomas Ruff have explored similar themes. In the end, it’s the ambiguity that’s most compelling.