Na afloop van de optocht Jeugdstorm 1935 - 1937

Curator: My first impression is of quiet conformity, even resignation. Editor: The work you're looking at is entitled "Na afloop van de optocht Jeugdstorm," which translates to "After the Youth Storm Parade." Created by J. Otto sometime between 1935 and 1937, this gelatin silver print captures a moment steeped in historical significance. Curator: Youth Storm, so it's not just girl scouts on a day trip. You know, that little halberd thing kind of confirms my suspicions. Editor: Indeed. The Jeugdstorm was a Dutch youth movement mirroring the Nazi Jugend in Germany. The girls shown here embody both the youthful exuberance the organization sought to cultivate and, perhaps unwittingly, the shadow of impending historical events. Note how Otto positions them. Curator: Yeah, all lined up, proper. It feels… staged, but also off-kilter, if you know what I mean? Like they're kids playing dress-up in something bigger and more serious than they comprehend. But back to the symbols: uniforms signify conformity and membership; dark caps could imply a certain order... Even the very specific weapon gives authority and order to the group, or it indicates potential future activities... But it’s heavy stuff when linked to those years. Editor: Absolutely. Otto's choice of gelatin silver print adds to this somber mood. The tones are muted, almost faded, lending a sense of the past and highlighting the documentary nature of the piece. But what is not explicit in the shot is also of importance. Who took the picture, the other possible reasons these young girls are gathered, all questions arise when viewing the scene from our modern context. Curator: There's an uneasy beauty in this seemingly simple group portrait. These kinds of pictures capture moments in history we rather prefer to ignore, to sanitize into grand narratives, when really, a good snapshot carries everything. Editor: Precisely. A snapshot can carry it all. Viewing photographs from a historical time has never been more thought provoking!