Bierdrinken 1940 - 1943

This black and white photograph, titled Bierdrinken, which translates to 'Drinking Beer', made by an anonymous artist, captures a candid moment, full of camaraderie. The image itself is an exercise in capturing the feel of a space. There's a kind of raw honesty to the way the light falls, creating a depth that invites you in. Look at the guy with his arm in the air, a visual disruption, that adds a dynamic feel. The composition isn’t perfect, which is what makes it so compelling, like life itself. It reminds me of the blurry snapshots you might find in a family album. There's a humanity there. It's not unlike the compositional style of the photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson, capturing a ‘decisive moment’, but without the artistic polish. Maybe there’s more art in this kind of ambiguity.