Dootje en Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong met anderen zwemmend 1930 - 1935

This little photograph, "Dootje en Wilhelmina van Zijll de Jong met anderen zwemmend," is so intimate, like a scene from a silent film, full of texture and light. It's hard to know when it was made because the artist is anonymous, but it captures the act of being together in a swimming pool. I can imagine the photographer wading through the water, holding the camera steady, waiting for just the right moment to capture the joy and laughter of the swimmers. The way the light flickers on the surface of the water, transforming the swimmer’s bodies into almost abstract shapes. I am really moved by the way the artist has framed the figures, creating a sense of community, inviting the viewer to step into their world. It’s a simple scene, but it speaks volumes about the joy of human connection. The work reminds me of the photographs of Jacques Henri Lartigue, which are full of people enjoying their lives. And the idea of people having fun together reminds me to embrace the joy of the everyday.