Zagreb Possibly 1943 - 1947

This is ‘Zagreb’, an anonymous photograph mounted in an album at an unknown date. Look at the composition; it’s as much about the dark page and those curious little squares holding the photo in place as it is about the image itself. The original maker wasn’t precious about it, and that’s what makes it so interesting. It’s process, revealed! The photograph, with its grayscale tones and fuzzy details, shows two figures in what looks like a lush, overgrown landscape. It’s blurry, more about mood than sharp representation. The whole thing has a quiet, personal feel, like a snapshot from someone’s private world. That small off-center photograph makes me think of Gerhard Richter's blurred photos which have the same found quality, of the world seen through a glass darkly. There’s beauty here, and an invitation to make our own sense of it.