In de stelling 1940 - 1941

This is a spread from a photo album, called "In de stelling" or "In position" by an anonymous maker, likely created during wartime. Look at the way these images are mounted. They're not just slapped on; each one seems carefully chosen, and the handwritten captions add a layer of intention, almost like annotations in a sketchbook. The matte surface of the black and white prints and the rough texture of the album's pages create a tangible connection to the past. I'm drawn to the figure in the leftmost picture. Standing with hands on hips, they seem caught in a moment of reflection, or perhaps defiance? It's like a snapshot of a feeling, a pause amid chaos. This work reminds me a bit of Gerhard Richter’s "Atlas" project, how both gather images to make sense of the world. Art isn't just about answers, it's about wrestling with questions, embracing ambiguity, and finding beauty in the unfinished.