Het kindermeisje van de familie Wachenheimer tijdens een vakantie in de bergen, gefotografeerd door Isabel Wachenheimer, augustus 1935, Engelberg (Zwitserland) 1935 - 1938

These black and white photographs of the Wachenheimer family's nanny were taken by Isabel Wachenheimer in Engelberg, Switzerland, in August 1935. Mounted in what appears to be a photo album, the material qualities of the image are striking - the rippled edges and off-white colour of the photographs suggest the passing of time, just as the slight fading of the black and white tones makes the viewer aware of photography as a process of chemical change. In one photograph, the nanny is seated on a grassy verge, smiling brightly at the camera. The town of Engelberg is neatly arranged behind her, and in the distance, the dramatic, cloud-shrouded mountain range of the Swiss Alps provides an imposing backdrop. There is an interesting comparison to be made here with the work of Sophie Calle, who also uses photography to explore personal narratives. Just as in Calle's work, in these photographs by Wachenheimer, the relationship between the image, text, and personal memory invites multiple readings.