Skelet, gevonden bij archeologische opgravingen te Hongarije 1928

This photo, by Jan Lanting, shows a skeleton discovered during an archaeological excavation in Hungary. Looking at this image, I think about the act of unearthing itself – brushing away the dirt, revealing what was once hidden. What thoughts went through Lanting's mind when he captured this? Did he reflect on the person, their life, their story? I keep thinking about the contrast between the stark reality of the bones and the earth surrounding them. It's a heavy image, a study in stillness and the passage of time. You almost imagine Lanting as being in conversation with other photographers interested in capturing objects and staging them. I’m thinking of artists like Thomas Demand whose works are based on pre-existing photographs found in the media. Ultimately, this image reminds us of the enduring power of art to provoke questions, evoke emotions, and connect us to the past.