Compositie van acht foto's van personen en het interieur van de Keizerlijke Militair-Medische Academie, gecombineerd met decoratie van gedroogde takken 1913

This photo collage was made by V. Sabel'skij with photographs and dried branches. It’s like a memory board, but instead of pinning things to it, Sabel'skij carefully arranges these images and organic materials. The sepia tones in the photographs give everything a sense of looking back. You can feel the texture of the dried branches, their placement feels intuitive, like the artist was working with what they had at hand. It's this blend of formal portraiture and personal touch that makes it so engaging. My eye keeps going back to the image of the man with the long white beard, he has an enigmatic presence. The branches almost frame him, like he is emerging from the undergrowth. Think of Hannah Hoch and the Dadaists, playing with images and meaning, but with this work, there is a certain softness that invites you to contemplate. It is an open ended form, embracing multiple interpretations.