Isabel Wachenheimer op een bankje aan de rivier de Alster in Hamburg, in 1935 1935

This photograph captures Isabel Wachenheimer in 1935, sitting on a bench by the Alster river in Hamburg. Taken by an anonymous photographer, this image is charged with the historical and personal circumstances of its time. In 1935, the rise of Nazism cast a long shadow over Jewish lives in Germany. Isabel, a Jewish child, is captured in a moment of stillness, her expression suggesting a mix of vulnerability and resilience. The visible wound on her knee hints at everyday struggles, which are amplified by the increasing discrimination and danger faced by Jewish people in that era. The Alster river behind her becomes a silent witness to the impending storm. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the individual lives caught in the web of history. It invites us to reflect on the experiences of children during times of political upheaval and to consider the ways in which identity, place, and personal narrative intersect.