Klaus Zürndorfer in het uniform van de Britse Royal Air Force met zijn moeder Liesel Zürndorfer-Wachenheimer, 25 janauri 1943, Palestina c. 1943

This is a photograph taken on January 25, 1943, in Palestine, showing Klaus Zürndorfer in his British Royal Air Force uniform, with his mother Liesel Zürndorfer-Wachenheimer. Looking at this small black and white image, you can almost feel the weight of history pressing down. The texture of the photograph itself, aged and slightly worn, speaks to its journey through time. The monochromatic palette focuses our attention on the subjects: the son’s crisp, formal uniform against the soft, dark fabric of his mother’s dress. Her hand rests gently on his arm, the only visible point of physical contact. It's a simple gesture, but it communicates volumes about the deep bond between them, especially poignant given the historical context. I keep thinking about what it must have been like to live in those times. This image reminds me of the quiet portraits by artists like Alice Neel, where the emotional weight of the subject is palpable, even without dramatic expression. It's a reminder that art, even in its most documentary form, can be a powerful vehicle for empathy and understanding.