Isabel Wachenheimer op straat met haar tweede echtgenoot Karl-Heinz Arndtheim, 1949-1955 1949 - 1955

This photograph of Isabel Wachenheimer with Karl-Heinz Arndtheim, was taken on the street sometime between 1949 and 1955. The artist, who remains anonymous, uses a limited palette of black and white, creating a world that feels both distant and immediate. It's the kind of image where the process of aging—the way the silver reacts over time—becomes part of the story. I’m always drawn to photographs, especially older ones like this, because they show us how time changes our perception. This isn't just a snapshot; it’s an object with a history. Look closely, and you’ll see the surface is far from uniform. The scratches, the fading—it all adds to the emotional weight. It reminds me of my own process as a painter, layering and scraping away, building up a surface that tells a story of its own. Thinking about other artists who use photography as a base for their paintings, I can't help but think of Gerhard Richter. Like Richter, this anonymous photographer captures a moment, transforming it into something enduring. Both artists show us that art is not about fixed meanings but embracing ambiguity.