Untitled (Documentation of Harvest for Andersen & Co) c. 1939 - 1940

This photograph, documenting a harvest for Andersen & Co, was taken by Karl Theodor Gremmler, though we don’t know exactly when. It's a classic black and white image, where the contrast does all the work. Look how the light filtering through the leaves creates this complex network of shapes. The tree's branches reach out like fingers, each one leading to a tiny burst of leaves. Then there’s the ladder, a stark geometric form cutting through all that organic chaos. It’s almost funny, the way this simple tool allows the figure to become part of the tree itself, a little human fruit picker. There’s something honest about this image. It reminds me of the work of August Sander, who also documented the lives of ordinary people with such directness and respect. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, even in a simple act like picking fruit from a tree.