Na afloop van de optocht Jeugdstorm 1935 - 1937

This photograph, "Na afloop van de optocht Jeugdstorm," by J. Otto, captures a moment, frozen in monochrome. The texture, oh, the texture! It’s all there in the details, etched in silver. I’m drawn to the way the figures emerge from the tangled mass of branches they are sitting on. You can almost feel the scratchy discomfort of the twigs digging into their uniforms. The density of the undergrowth contrasts with the crispness of their clothing, giving it an almost sculptural relief. I like how the eye is drawn to the light patches of the boys' shirts. They seem so innocent but you get the impression that they are involved with something bigger than them. There's something unsettling about their shared space, they are sitting together but seem so isolated. It brings to mind Diane Arbus's photographs of children, or even some of Weegee's work; gritty, honest, and a little bit unnerving. Art is an exchange, a back-and-forth, forever asking questions, never giving pat answers.