Isabel Wachenheimer als baby op een commode 1929 - 1932

This photograph shows Isabel Wachenheimer as a baby on a changing table, and was probably made with whatever camera was lying around. It makes me think about family photos and snapshots, how they capture a moment but also create one. The baby is smiling, with her arms up, showing off for the camera. Did she do that on her own, or did someone make her do it? Either way, it's about performing, isn't it? The adults want a cute photo, and the baby wants to be seen. This is a different kind of “painting,” one made with light and time. You can almost feel the light on your skin, the cool surface of the changing table. It’s a reminder that art isn't just what you see in museums but is part of everyday life. Think of all the people making art all the time, and the dialogue between looking and making, and that’s what keeps art alive, and fun.