Vlootinspectie in Vlaardingen (Koningin Wilhelminahaven Zuidzijde) door Konteradmiral van de Duitse Kriegsmarine, Waldemar Winther 1941 - 1945

This photograph captures Konteradmiral Waldemar Winther of the German Kriegsmarine, during a fleet inspection in Vlaardingen. The anonymous photographer likely used readily available camera and black and white film of the time. The material qualities of the photograph - its monochrome palette and grainy texture - evoke the somber atmosphere of wartime occupation. The image's small scale and snapshot aesthetic suggests a personal, rather than official, record. This was not a fine art print, but rather a functional object, designed to document and perhaps commemorate a specific event. The inscription at the bottom, in red ink, further personalizes the image, marking it as a kind of ad-hoc artifact. Consider the social context of its making: wartime occupation, military power, and the everyday lives of individuals caught in the conflict. Even a seemingly simple photograph can reveal the complex interplay of materials, processes, and human experience.