Een aantal onbekende mannen wassen hun voeten bij een fontein before 1900

This photograph, by R. Proessdorf, captures a scene of men washing their feet at a fountain. Photography, invented in the 19th century, democratized image-making, offering a seemingly objective means of capturing everyday life, and yet, the photographer still had the power to frame the shot and choose their subject. In this image, the contrast between the rough texture of the stone pavement and the smooth, flowing water emphasizes the basic elements of daily existence. The photograph is a document, but also an interpretation, highlighting the dignity and labor of the working class. The photograph also makes you consider the circumstances of these men and the amount of labor involved in their lives, suggesting a connection to broader issues of poverty, access to water, and the social realities of the time. By focusing on such everyday activities, artists and photographers invite viewers to reconsider the value and significance of the mundane, challenging traditional hierarchies within art.