Duits militair in gestreept pak, met zijn vriendin 1940 - 1945

This small photograph in the Rijksmuseum shows a German soldier in a striped suit with his arm around a woman. I wonder about this picture—why did this anonymous artist take it? Was it a simple snapshot, a casual memento? Or was there something more deliberate in capturing this moment? The greyscale makes me feel like I’m looking into a past that’s both familiar and distant. The soldier’s striped suit is so unusual. Was it a uniform, or just a quirky fashion choice? I imagine the photographer carefully framing the shot, considering the composition, and balancing the figures against the backdrop of that building. Looking at this little photograph, I am reminded of the power of images to freeze moments in time, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of history, identity, and human connection. It speaks to me about how art can be found in the most unexpected places, transforming everyday life into a form of storytelling.