Dagelijks leven in Moengo 1927 - 1931

This is an interesting composite of images of daily life in Moengo, made with a camera, by someone unknown. I love this! It’s a set of documents, or studies, maybe for a painting that never was. Both images show a wonderful attention to texture and form. In the first image, I’m drawn to the way the light plays across the surfaces of the truck, the vegetation in the background, and the geometric planes of the tower. There’s something so satisfying in the contrast between the hard edges of the truck and building and the soft, organic shapes of the surrounding environment. Then in the second image you have this woman, wearing this amazing dotted dress, and even more amazing hat! These are almost like found photographs presented on a mood board, an intimate glimpse into a very particular place and time. It puts me in mind of a similar impulse found in the work of someone like Gerhard Richter. It's like they are having a conversation across time, about the nature of seeing, and the power of the image.