Aankomst prinselijk gezin op Vliegveld Teuge - Augustus 1945 Possibly 1945 - 1948

Here is a photograph in black and white made by Jan Stevens of the arrival of the royal family at Teuge Airport in August 1945. This image is like a gentle memory, the muted tones reflecting a world trying to find its footing after the war. Stevens captures a moment of normalcy amidst the historical backdrop, a royal family sipping tea, a child clutching flowers – and that little girl is so cute. I think about Stevens behind the camera, what he thought it would have been like to capture not just the arrival, but the feeling of a nation breathing a collective sigh of relief. It's interesting how a simple, monochromatic palette can speak volumes. The grainy texture almost feels like a layer of history itself. I wonder how it connects with other photographs and paintings of that time. Artists are always in conversation with one another. You know, it is like how we see, think, and experience it.