Na afloop van de optocht Jeugdstorm 1935 - 1937

This small, undated photograph by J. Otto captures a group of young people, likely in the Netherlands, after what seems to be a parade. What strikes me is the texture, or lack thereof, flattened and subdued. The monochrome palette makes me think about the interplay between light and shadow, and how the photographer uses these elements to sculpt forms out of a relatively limited range of tones. Look at the way the light catches the faces of the children in the foreground. There’s a certain innocence, but also a sense of weariness in their eyes. The faces have a remarkable directness. It's like a quiet moment, full of unspoken stories. It reminds me a bit of some of August Sander’s portraiture, that same unflinching gaze. Anyway, art is just a big conversation between people and ideas, right? And ambiguity is always more interesting than certainty, don’t you think?