Een gedecoreerde stellage met afgebeelde dierenkoppen voor nen hindu crematie ritueel. 1900 - 1915

This small photograph by Johanna Hermina Marmelstein captures a decorated structure used for a Hindu cremation ritual. The image feels layered in history and process. The photo is a record of something, an artifact. The way the light hits the structure, you can almost feel the texture of the wood carvings and the weight of the object. Looking at the base, you notice the repeated forms of the people carrying it. This brings a sense of physicality, you can almost feel the weight and labour of the moment. Marmelstein's choice to focus on this ritual object also reminds me of the work of people like August Sander, who tried to document the people of the Weimar Republic. Ultimately, this image is a reminder that art is about more than just aesthetics, it’s about the ongoing exchange of ideas across time.