Jeugdkamp c. 1920 - 1940

This photograph called Jeugdkamp, Dutch for ‘Youth Camp,’ was made by an anonymous artist. It's a small gelatin silver print, a little gem. I imagine the artist setting up their bulky camera on a tripod, carefully framing this tableau of young people gathered in front of a large tent. They look directly at the lens, all trying to keep still. There's something about the sepia tones that transports me to a different era, a time when capturing a moment was a deliberate and considered act. I can imagine the artist thinking about light and shadow, about how to arrange the figures to create a pleasing composition. The choice to include the tent, with its hanging clothes and scattered belongings, adds a layer of narrative. It hints at the temporary nature of this community, a brief moment of shared experience captured for posterity. It makes me wonder what it was like to be there, a small piece of time immortalized in silver.