Maria Gonggrijp en een vriendin c. 1910

This is an old photograph of Maria Gonggrijp and a friend. It’s hard to tell what kind of camera the photographer had. It's interesting to think about this anonymous photographer, who captured this image. Were they a friend? What's the relationship between these women? The women are leaning on a rail and looking outward into the world, which suggests to me they are hoping for something. The whole photograph has this slightly out-of-focus, dreamy quality. It’s amazing to think about how photographs have been used in this way over time. How a photograph can tell a story, even if you don’t know the people in it. It becomes a symbol of friendship and hope, even for us today.