Matroos 1940 - 1943

This photograph of a 'Matroos,' or sailor, by an anonymous artist shows a sailor onboard a ship or boat. It's a compact little world, isn't it? I imagine the artist taking the picture, maybe as a quick snapshot, a casual way of holding onto a memory or moment. It's kind of you to be taking pictures of the people in your life. There's a lot of quiet intensity in this small black and white print. I wonder, what was the story between the photographer and the sailor? It feels spontaneous. The cropping feels like it has been done in real-time. Photography has this way of connecting us to others and a bit like a visual diary. It gives us little glimpses into the lives of people who are sailing the seas. And aren’t we all doing that, in some way? I feel like this photograph understands how the best art is often an invitation to a shared experience, reminding us that we’re all in this boat together.