Lid van de Reichsarbeitsdienst Possibly 1940 - 1946

Editor: This gelatin silver print, "Lid van de Reichsarbeitsdienst," possibly taken between 1940 and 1946, depicts a member of the Reich Labour Service. It’s stark and unsettling. What kind of context helps us understand its presence here in the Rijksmuseum? Curator: Well, we must acknowledge the photograph's difficult subject matter directly. Its inclusion in the museum reflects a commitment to confronting uncomfortable aspects of history and exploring the socio-political forces at play during the Second World War. Editor: So, it’s not about glorifying the figure? Curator: Absolutely not. The Rijksmuseum, like many public institutions, has a responsibility to present history critically. How does this photograph function as a historical document versus a piece of propaganda, for instance? We should question how such images were used and circulated at the time, and how the context of display alters our reception now. Notice the staged, almost nonchalant pose of the man against a bleak landscape – what statement does that visual rhetoric attempt to make, and for whom? Editor: I see what you mean. Placing it in a museum setting makes people reconsider the original intentions behind the image and examine its impact on historical memory. It forces dialogue about the past. Curator: Precisely. Museums have become essential spaces for mediating history and fostering critical engagement with challenging subjects. We aim to provide a platform for conversation and reflection. Editor: I hadn’t considered the role of the museum itself in shaping how we see something like this. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Museums aren’t neutral spaces, remember that. Understanding that is half the battle.