Echtpaar Jetten voor het huis te Moengo 1925 - 1927

This silver gelatin print, "Echtpaar Jetten voor het huis te Moengo," by an anonymous artist, captures a moment frozen in time. The stark blacks, whites, and greys tell a story through light and shadow. I imagine the photographer carefully framing the Jetten couple in front of their home. What were they thinking as they posed? Did they feel proud of their house? Were they happy with each other? You can almost feel the weight of the camera, the click of the shutter, the anticipation of seeing the image come to life in the darkroom. The way the light reflects off the car and the house’s facade gives it a beautiful stillness. There is such joy and hope embedded in these little family portraits. This photograph reminds me of the work of other unsung heroes of photography. How the simple act of documenting life becomes art.