Massagraf 1942 - 1945

This anonymous Massagraf, preserved at the Rijksmuseum, is a stark black and white photograph of a mass grave. The stark tonal range emphasizes the horror, but also creates a strong graphic quality. The composition, dense with figures, uses the documentary style to create an unflinching portrayal of atrocity. Look at the way the bodies are piled one on top of the other. There is a dreadful sense of dehumanization and loss, but the anonymous photographer has captured the moment of discovery. It is as if the image is saying ‘look at this’. I am reminded of Leon Golub’s paintings of mercenaries from the 1980s. While the content differs widely, both bodies of work share a similar interest in depicting violence, and in challenging viewers to confront the darker aspects of humanity. Ultimately, this photograph leaves us with uncomfortable questions about complicity, remembrance, and the human capacity for cruelty.