Duitse soldaten op een veroverde brug c. 1940 - 1945

This small photograph, made by an anonymous artist, captures German soldiers on a conquered bridge. The sepia tones evoke a sense of distance, like a memory fading at the edges. I love the way the photographer uses light and shadow to create depth. Look at the textures - the rough planks of the bridge contrasting with the smooth steel of the structure. You can almost feel the chill in the air. The bridge stretches out, and these figures marching forward into an uncertain future. That one dark spot near the bottom - is it a stain, a shadow, or something else entirely? It's those ambiguous moments that make the photograph so intriguing. It reminds me of the work of Gerhard Richter, who blurs his images to challenge our perception of reality, and remind us that what we see is never really fixed.