Burgemeester De Vlugt begroet Seyss Inquart Possibly 1940 - 1946

This photograph by Polygoon captures the handshake between Burgemeester De Vlugt and Seyss-Inquart. The handshake, ostensibly a gesture of greeting, is laden with historical weight and ambivalence. Across epochs, the handshake has symbolized agreement, peace, and respect. Yet, here, it becomes a chilling emblem of forced collaboration. The photograph is staged to seem like a respectful greeting between equals, but in truth, it is a public display of surrender. It is interesting how these two men's hands are being offered to each other, but are not quite clasped, in a display of caution, as the handshake is not honest or friendly. Consider how gestures echo through time—the Roman "dextrarum iunctio" on funerary monuments, a symbol of unity and farewell. But here, the gesture is distorted, burdened with deceit. The photograph is a stark reminder of how symbols can be manipulated, their meanings perverted in the service of power. The handshake lives on, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.