Boekenkast en beeldjes 1935

This black and white photograph, Boekenkast en beeldjes, or bookcase and figurines, by Elsa Silberstein, is a small but mighty document of someone's domestic space. It's like Silberstein just walked in and snapped a picture of what was in front of her. The eye travels all over this image; a lamp, a series of framed pictures, the patterned wallpaper, and a shelf of objects. It's a symphony of textures and shapes, all packed into one little frame. There's a real sense of depth here, like you could step right into the scene. The composition feels very natural and unrehearsed, like a snapshot of daily life. I'm reminded of the work of artists like Nan Goldin who captured intimate moments with a raw and unfiltered lens. And just like Goldin, Silberstein reminds us that art can be found in the everyday, in the things we surround ourselves with, and in the way we choose to see the world.