Vermoedelijk Italiaanse Alpenjagers begeleiden muilezels bij het transport van militaire staf 1916

Henri de Rothschild made this photograph of what is likely Italian Alpenjagers with mules in the Alps sometime around the turn of the century. It’s all about the greyscale here, a study in how much you can do without much. Look at how the light falls on the building, it’s practically glowing, but softly, like it’s being lit from the inside. It reminds me of some of those old black and white movies, all about atmosphere and mood. The way the trees almost blend together in the background, creates a kind of depthless space. And then you have the figures in the foreground, sharply defined, their shadows creating another layer of depth. It’s a simple scene, but it's full of subtle details and contrasts that keep your eye moving around the frame. Like a Edward Hopper painting, a quiet, contemplative moment captured in time. It makes you wonder about the stories behind those faces, where they’re going, and what they’re thinking.