Militair in het konijnenhok 1940 - 1944

Curator: Let’s consider this gelatin-silver print. It’s an anonymous work titled "Militair in het konijnenhok," or "Soldier in the Rabbit Hutch," dating from 1940 to 1944, here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Well, the first thing that strikes me is the inherent paradox of it. This soldier, supposedly in a position of power, is presented almost vulnerably, amidst these docile rabbits. There's a very deliberate crafting of image here using very stark and unadorned materials. Curator: It certainly raises interesting questions about the representation of power and the gaze during wartime. The propagandistic possibilities are worth considering: this photo could depict the kinder, gentler side of military occupation. Think of the effort in creating that setting and the labor in creating that box! Editor: I agree; the contrast between the potential violence that a soldier embodies and the innocence of the rabbits makes me question what purpose it serves beyond face value. The graininess of the silver print even lends it a strange intimacy; like a worn artifact, not quite precious, yet valued for its history. And how are we, the consuming audience, meant to engage with the materiality of this image? Curator: It seems a deliberately constructed scene meant to be captured and disseminated, though the original context and audience remain unknown. But to whom did that labor ultimately appeal? Was it the soldier, the rabbits, the creator, the commissioner? And if meant for the public eye, what sort of image did the occupying force wish to cultivate in the conquered territory? The presence of the soldier’s uniform does remind you of the power dynamic regardless. Editor: It's compelling how the photographic process, a medium rooted in capturing reality, is here employed to craft a constructed narrative that feels so calculated in its design. Ultimately the composition serves less as an accurate historical record, and instead, becomes something of a loaded object. Curator: Absolutely, a seemingly simple image that encapsulates many layers of complex meaning regarding representation, intention, and reception during a turbulent period. It reminds us how much the context frames the reading. Editor: Right, seeing it from a production angle emphasizes how crafted and staged even the simplest-seeming of images are. It changes your viewing experience.