Op de receptie van de Regeringsvoorlichtingsdienst waren tal van journalisten aanwezig, die het nuttige met het aangename verenigden en menige informatie opdeden Possibly 1949

This photograph, titled "Op de receptie van de Regeringsvoorlichtingsdienst waren tal van journalisten aanwezig, die het nuttige met het aangename verenigden en menige informatie opdeden", lives in the Rijksmuseum. The Regeringsvoorlichtingsdienst, or Government Information Service, made it; but when? The scene itself is a study in mid-century modern tones. The blacks are deep, with stark shades of grey, but the surface of the print itself is smooth, maybe a bit glossy. The men here are all in suits, gathered tightly around a table, their faces turned inward. I'm drawn to the subtle gradations in tone that define the faces, which suggest more than just a record of an event. The dark shadows under the eyes and the sharp contrast on the suit jackets create a sense of depth and drama. Look at the man seated in the middle; his glasses almost seem to glow. This reminds me a bit of Gerhard Richter’s blurry photographs, but with less ambiguity and more direct engagement. Art is always an ongoing conversation, and even a simple photograph can offer a new way of seeing.