Groepsfoto's Possibly 1940 - 1949

These untitled photographs were made by an anonymous artist at an unknown date, but the inscription suggests 1940. They are glued into what looks like an album page. The grainy texture of the prints, the stark contrast between light and shadow, it all speaks to me of an artmaking process rooted in chance and imperfection. Look how the subjects are arranged, some gazing directly at the camera, others lost in thought or conversation. Each face is a study in humanity. The physical materiality of the photograph itself is important here. The way the paper curls at the edges, the way the emulsion has shifted and aged, all of these details contribute to our emotional experience of the work. See the photograph on the bottom right, the way the light catches the faces of the men standing outside the building. It's as if the artist wanted to capture not just their physical appearance, but also their inner world, their hopes, and their fears. Looking at this work, I’m reminded of the documentary photography of someone like Lisette Model. Both artists share a willingness to embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations.