Groep Jeugdstormers buiten geportretteerd Possibly 1934 - 1935

This small black and white photograph of a group of Jeugdstormers captures a moment frozen in time. The process of photography itself, like painting, is about capturing light and shadow, and here, the gradations of gray create a stark, unsettling effect. The texture of the photograph is smooth, almost clinical, which contrasts sharply with the disturbing content. Look at the way the boys are posed, some with forced smiles, others with blank stares. The uniformity of their uniforms and caps speaks to a larger, more sinister order, yet there are subtle variations in their expressions and postures that hint at individuality struggling to emerge. The photograph reminds me of the work of artists like Gerhard Richter, who also used photography to explore themes of memory, history, and trauma. Like Richter's blurred images, this photograph resists easy interpretation, inviting us to confront the complexities and ambiguities of the past.