Dienststelle 23 443 1940 - 1943

Editor: So, this gelatin-silver print, “Dienststelle 23 443,” dates back to between 1940 and 1943, its creator is anonymous, and it now resides in the Rijksmuseum. There’s something very… unsettling about it, I think, because of the mundane presentation of the person versus the potential implication of what 'Dienststelle' signifies during that time period. How do you interpret this work in a broader historical sense? Curator: Given the historical context, particularly the World War II era, "Dienststelle 23 443" evokes the administrative apparatus of the Nazi regime. The bureaucratic term 'Dienststelle' itself implies a cold, impersonal system. This seemingly straightforward portrait, placed within the confines of such a structure, highlights the unsettling banality of evil. The portrait is a gelatin-silver print and typical of the photo documentation prevalent in that time. What does that say about power and surveillance? Editor: It feels like a record, like evidence. Do you think the banality is intentional? Or does that just add to the unsettling nature? Curator: That is a keen insight. Is it the photographer's commentary, or merely a reflection of the era’s aesthetic? The formal composition, with the figure posed rigidly in uniform, suggests an attempt to project authority and order. The very act of documenting, in this instance, implies the institutional power structures at play, which demands analysis and questioning about the subject and the photographe’s purpose. What narrative do you believe this adds to photographic portraits? Editor: That’s an interesting idea… Maybe portraiture doesn’t always convey just individual stories. I hadn’t considered the institution *behind* the photo playing such a big role. Curator: Precisely. By looking at art through the lens of history and institutions, we can unpack so much more than what initially meets the eye. We have to understand museums and other organizations shaped public perception through art. Editor: That really changed how I view not just this picture, but photo portraits altogether. It's almost intimidating! Thanks!