Duitse soldaten schillen aardappelen. 1940s

This photograph, titled Duitse soldaten schillen aardappelen, which translates to German soldiers peeling potatoes, is from an unknown time and made by an anonymous artist. The tonal range is limited to shades of grey and it feels like a relic. It’s all about the texture, isn't it? The rough edges of the photograph itself, contrasting with the smooth faces of the soldiers. You can almost smell the earth, the starch, and the metal. It has this snapshot quality, like a moment stolen from a larger narrative, the casualness of the pose juxtaposed with the harsh reality of their situation. The faces of the soldiers are turned toward the camera, but their actions are turned to the dull labor of peeling potatoes. Think of the quiet intimacy of Morandi's still-life paintings, how he managed to wring the sublime out of humble objects. Or the stark, documentary style of August Sander, who wanted to capture the essence of German society through portraiture. This photograph exists somewhere between those two poles, a quiet moment in the midst of chaos, a reminder of the human labor that sustains even the most inhuman endeavors. It's less about what it shows, and more about what it suggests.