Groep Jeugdstormers, buiten Possibly 1934 - 1935

This photograph shows a group of Jeugdstormers, the youth movement associated with the Dutch NSB party. Note the uniformity of dress: the black ties against white shirts suggest the adoption of a modern aesthetic that was used to signal the break with tradition, but that can also be seen as a visual tool that aided in the creation of a strong sense of unity. In many cultures throughout time, clothing has been used as a visual marker for identity, a way to signal belonging to a group. The scene evokes a powerful, almost primal impulse to belong to a collective. We can trace this deep-seated need through various historical and cultural manifestations. Images such as this one are powerful because they reveal the cyclical nature of history, reminding us how symbols and motifs can be re-appropriated and re-contextualized across different times and places, for very different and dangerous means.