Vergadering kandidatenlijst Possibly 1970 - 1973

This photograph, Vergadering kandidatenlijst, was shot by Anefo, and its dimensions are roughly 10 by 24 centimeters. Looking at this gathering, I’m drawn to the faces in the crowd. The grey scale emphasizes the play of light and shadow that reveals the textures and contours of skin, hair, and clothing. Each person is captured in a moment of contemplation, and if you look closely you can see how the way they are sitting, their posture, and their facial expression reveals their individuality. Take for instance, the woman with crossed legs, gazing off to the side. Her body language is quite different from the man in the background, who is leaning forward with his hand on his chin, deep in thought. Each figure exists in their own private world, but they are also united by a sense of purpose and shared experience. The overall effect is one of both intimacy and distance, connection and separation. It makes me think of Rineke Dijkstra's portraits, where the subjects are similarly isolated against a neutral background, their emotions laid bare for the viewer to see. Both photographers remind us that art is not just about capturing what is visible, but also about revealing what is felt.