Het neerhalen van de Nederlandse vlag en hijsen van de hakenkruisvlag 1941 - 1945

This is a photograph, part of an album, showing the Dutch flag being lowered and the Nazi flag being raised; it was made by an anonymous photographer, at an unknown date. I’m drawn to the textures embedded within this small image, the rough surface of the album page acting as a backdrop to the smooth photographic paper, and the grainy details within each photograph. It reminds me that everything here is mediated, represented. The grey scale gives it a documentary feel, yet the crisp edges of the photos, neatly arranged, suggests someone took care to preserve these images, imbuing them with a personal meaning. There's a stark, unsettling quality to this image. It's not just about the event it depicts, but about the act of witnessing, recording, and remembering. It speaks to how we grapple with history, turning moments of trauma into objects of reflection. It reminds me a little of Gerhard Richter's work, how he used photographs to explore memory and history. Ultimately, this image reminds us that art, even in its simplest forms, can be a powerful tool for understanding our world and ourselves.