Isabel Wachenheimer met onbekend lid van de huishoudelijke staf in een strandkorf op het strand van Scharbeutz, september 1934 1934 - 1939

This photograph, taken in September 1934, captures Isabel Wachenheimer and an unknown member of the household staff in a beach chair on Scharbeutz beach. It appears to be taken by an anonymous photographer. At first glance, the image is deceptively simple. Two figures are united within the shelter of the beach chair. This motif of enclosure is reminiscent of medieval depictions of the Madonna, where the Virgin is enshrined within architectural settings. Similarly, the beach chair serves as a protective space—a place of sanctuary from the harshness of the outside world. Yet, as we delve deeper, the complexities of this constructed world become apparent. This duality within the symbol of the protective enclosure hints at the conflicting emotions that may be lurking beneath the surface. In times of uncertainty, the desire for safety and security clashes with the need for openness and freedom. It echoes in the collective memory of social and political turmoil. The image acts as a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This motif—the protective enclosure—is an archetype that resurfaces throughout history. It evolves, adapts, and takes on new meanings.