Groep Duitse militairen aan een tafel Possibly 1940 - 1946

This anonymous photograph from the Rijksmuseum gives off a casual vibe, and there’s something very appealing about the composition; three soldiers sit around a table, and another one leans on the table. I love how the grayscale tones play off each other, creating a sense of depth. There's a stillness to the scene, like a paused moment in a film. I like the stark contrast between the darks of the trees and the light patches of the clearing. In the foreground, the dark, almost abstract shapes contrast with the detailed background of the figures and the trees. It reminds me of the way Gerhard Richter used to layer abstraction and realism, creating these ambiguous, dreamlike images. It leaves you wondering what they are doing, what are they talking about? It’s a quiet image, that speaks volumes.