Bielefeld en Bocklemünd Possibly 1939

This is a page from an anonymous photo album, titled ‘Bielefeld en Bocklemünd’ including small photographs, now residing at the Rijksmuseum. I imagine the person who compiled this album, carefully selecting these black and white images and arranging them on the page, maybe they were feeling nostalgic, a little melancholic, or maybe even a bit hopeful. See how each photograph is a little window into a different moment. There’s a truck parked in front of some trees, maybe a supply vehicle? Then there’s a shot of some soldiers relaxing on a field. Finally, an arrow points to an image of some folks with a dog in a garden. I love the handwritten notes next to the images. It's like they're whispering secrets, hinting at stories. Even across time, we can feel connected to this anonymous person through this intimate, personal archive. It reminds me how we're all linked by the act of documenting and remembering, each adding our own mark to the ongoing narrative of history.