Wehrmacht kompagnie op appel Possibly 1940 - 1949

This small black and white photograph captures a somber moment, an anonymous Wehrmacht company on parade. What was the photographer thinking, when they took the photo? What was their state of mind? Were they trying to capture the feeling in the air? The uncertainty? I can only imagine what it was like to witness such a sight. The tones in the photograph are stark, as if the world has been drained of colour. The figures stand in rigid formation, a study in uniformity and anonymity. The light reflects off their helmets, obscuring their faces, making them appear as a single, undifferentiated mass. The texture of the old photograph adds a layer of history, as if the image itself bears witness to the passage of time and the weight of events. This image has a sense of collective energy which resonates through time, and reminds me of my own creative process.