Een scène uit het toneelstuk 'Wat Jonas overkwam' Possibly 1936

This photograph by Fotobureau Stevens captures a scene from the play 'What Happened to Jonas,' presenting a rich tableau of human interaction and symbolic resonance. Note the figures surrounding the piano. The puppet on the piano becomes an emblem of deception, reminiscent of figures in commedia dell'arte, masking true feelings. The hand gesture of the figure on the left conveys intense emotional states. This motif of expressive hands can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman oratory, where gestures were carefully codified to convey specific emotions. Observe, too, how these gestures resurface in Renaissance art, particularly in depictions of religious scenes. In time, the meaning of these symbols shifts, yet the emotional and psychological impact remains potent. It is a cyclical progression, a constant return and renewal, resonating within our collective memory.