Zanguitvoering van de WA Possibly 1943 - 1945

This photograph titled 'Zanguitvoering van de WA' was taken by the NSB. It's a monochrome image and that stripping away of colour immediately changes how we perceive the image. It’s almost like a charcoal drawing, where the artist is making use of tone and contrast to convey information. In terms of material aspects, the image is sharp and highly detailed, which in this context, serves to emphasise the uniformity and regimentation of the subjects. If you look closely at the faces of the individuals in the crowd, there is a real sense of determination. I think that the artist has captured the sense of the propaganda in a highly effective way. Looking at the staging of the image, I’m reminded of Leni Riefenstahl, whose work also used a similar kind of scale and grandeur. Art is an ongoing conversation, and sometimes, that conversation can be difficult, but it's important to keep talking.