Gideon Elon met bloem in zijn revers in gesprek met twee onbekende mannen, tijdens een receptie gedurende de KLM-tijd van Isabel Wachenheimer 1956 - 1973

Editor: This is a gelatin silver print dating sometime between 1956 and 1973. The title says it depicts Gideon Elon, sporting a flower in his lapel, in conversation with two unknown men at what seems to be a KLM reception hosted by Isabel Wachenheimer. It's quite a fascinating social snapshot. What strikes me is the somewhat subdued mood despite what looks like a celebratory gathering. What catches your eye in this image? Curator: Subdued, you say? It feels… expectant, doesn't it? As if these gentlemen are holding their breath, secrets dancing just behind their polite smiles. And it is social realism at its best, or is it at its most poignant. Isabel Wachenheimer, I wonder what role she played beyond host… Did she capture a clandestine moment? Look closely; the composition itself seems staged but could it be completely? I imagine them debating politics, perhaps even a bit of gentle espionage tucked between sips of champagne. What stories could they tell, do you think? And how do those narratives colour our view of the gelatin print, the very silver reflecting secrets whispered in corners of rooms? Editor: Espionage! That's an exciting perspective I hadn't considered! The details - the flowers, the champagne bottle subtly placed near the edge of the photograph - give it an everyday air but they could all serve a dual purpose, I think now. Is that common, to disguise something potentially more complicated as something everyday? Curator: The art of hiding in plain sight, isn't it? I find it deeply satisfying to discover this possibility. Art mirroring life, reflecting society’s delicate dance with deception and revelation. The ordinary as a thin disguise is always interesting in gelatin print such as this, that seemingly froze in time this slice of life. It prompts us to ponder how much more exists just beneath the surface, unseen, unspoken. Editor: Definitely given me a lot to consider! I'll never look at a simple flower the same way.