Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong bij een bakstenen muur 1933 - 1935

This photograph of Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong by an anonymous artist is made using gelatin silver print on paper. The image is particularly interesting for its backdrop: a brick wall. Though simple, the arrangement of bricks involves skilled labor and a time-tested technique. Each brick, individually molded and fired, contributes to a larger structure, mirroring the social context of the photograph itself. The bricks, laid in a pattern, speak to the process of construction and the collective effort required to build environments, contrasting with the individual portrait of Wilhelmina. The photograph captures a moment, but the wall behind her represents permanence and the physical labor inherent in building our world. In considering both the sitter and the setting, we can appreciate how this image bridges the personal with broader narratives of work and materiality.