Twee oudere vrouwen 1941 - 1942

This small photograph, titled ‘Two Older Women,’ is an intimate portrait made with the simple materials of the photographic process. The grayscale image immediately speaks to its historical context. Photography, even in its simplest form, involves a complex interplay of chemistry and technology, from the film's emulsion to the development process in a darkroom. The image captures a moment in time, fixing the subjects and their environment in a way that painted portraits simply could not. This everyday scene of two women and a child standing in front of a house prompts us to think about labor. It is a social document, indicative of wider issues of class and economics. The worn materiality and modest dimensions of this photograph suggest a personal, rather than commercial, origin. Ultimately, this unassuming photograph gains significance when we consider the labor and resources required for its creation. Its value is not merely aesthetic, but also deeply rooted in the social and economic conditions of its time.