Portret van Isabel Wachenheimer, bedoeld als eerste tekenen van leven aan een onbekende afzender, 25 september 1945 in Davos Possibly 1945 - 1949

This photograph, taken September 25, 1945, in Davos, serves as a hopeful sign of life. The subject, Isabel Wachenheimer, is captured in profile, her gaze directed towards an unseen future. The act of portraiture itself carries a profound symbolic weight. Throughout history, portraits have been used not only to record likeness but also to assert identity, commemorate existence, and bridge distances—both physical and temporal. Think of ancient Roman death masks, the Fayum mummy portraits of Roman Egypt or even the work of Hans Holbein the Younger. Each of these portraits freezes a moment in time. This image serves as a testament to survival, a defiant gesture against the backdrop of recent devastation. The photograph bears witness to the enduring human need to connect, to reassure, and to remember, echoing across the ages. A poignant reminder of resilience and the power of a single image to transcend the darkness.