Leerlingen van Schule Schloss Salem in het scheikundelokaal c. 1929

This photograph, of chemistry students in a classroom, maybe from the early twentieth century, feels like it was created with light itself. The artist, who remains unknown to us, captures a fleeting moment through the soft interplay of light and shadow. What strikes me is the way the light renders the students, they almost glow. The monochrome palette emphasizes the textures - the glassware and the surfaces of tables. You can almost feel the smooth glass against your fingers. I am particularly drawn to the girl at the front. She is looking down at her work. We can only guess at her thoughts. There is something about the way the light catches on her cheek that hints at both concentration and a touch of melancholy. It reminds me a little of Gerhard Richter's portraits, where realism is softened by an almost dreamlike haze. Art, like chemistry, is a process of uncovering and understanding, but also of embracing the unknown.