Wehrmacht soldaat voor een huis 1940 - 1941

This small photograph of a Wehrmacht soldier in front of a house was made by an anonymous artist. The sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia. The snow seems freshly fallen, undisturbed. The soldier is still, almost like a statue, positioned there as an extension of the house. I wonder what the photographer felt when he took the picture. Was he nervous? Did he have to ask permission? This seemingly banal photograph captures the essence of a particular historical moment, with all the anxiety and uncertainty that goes with it. Photography, like painting, freezes a moment in time, allowing us to reflect on what was, what is, and what might have been. Artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and space, and this exchange of ideas enriches our creative experiences.