First Lieutenant Albert Laman Trip with Brigade of the Marechaussee Corps 1910 - 1913

This photograph, First Lieutenant Albert Laman Trip with Brigade of the Marechaussee Corps, was made anonymously with photography. It's about process because it captures a moment, but also involved planning, posing, and developing. The whole thing has a really soft, almost dreamy look – the light is evenly distributed, and the monochrome palette emphasizes the textures and details. Take a close look at the lieutenant at the center. He stands out, not just because of his lighter uniform and hat, but because of his pose. It’s a study in contrasts, like a carefully constructed stage set where everyone has a part to play. It reminds me a bit of Jeff Wall, in that the image is a construction, like a tableau. There is so much going on with the composition that it's hard to really pin down one reading. And that's what makes it so interesting.