Optocht NSB 1936 - 1937

This small, undated photograph, shows an NSB procession and was made by an anonymous photographer. What strikes me first is its monochrome palette, a study in greys that feels both stark and intimate. The textures captured here are palpable, from the rough cobblestones underfoot to the smooth, dark suits of the marchers. I’m drawn to the figure at the front, his stride confident, almost arrogant. There’s a clarity to his form that contrasts with the blur of motion around him. It reminds me that photography is never truly objective; every choice - focus, angle, exposure - infuses the image with meaning. Thinking about the work of someone like Gerhard Richter comes to mind, particularly his use of blurred photographs to explore memory and history. Like Richter, this anonymous photographer uses the inherent ambiguity of their medium to prompt questions, not answers. The photograph’s power lies in its refusal to offer easy conclusions, reminding us that history is always open to interpretation, fraught with complexity and contradiction.