Drie matrozen met een flesje bier 1940 - 1943

This small black and white photograph, titled 'Three Sailors with a Bottle of Beer' is by an anonymous artist. It’s part of a collection at the Rijksmuseum. The snap feels very casual. I love the composition, how the photo is divided by this big door in the foreground. Its surface is worn with a big handle, a bit like a painting in itself. The door creates a kind of visual threshold, framing the sailors in the background. They’re relaxing, hanging out with a beer – just a quiet moment on a ship. There is a beautiful contrast in tones, from the dark door to the bright sky. The grey tones give the image depth. It reminds me of some of the more intimate street photography of Lisette Model or Helen Levitt – where life is caught unawares. The image gives a glimpse into a fleeting moment of connection. The anonymity of the artist and the subjects adds to its mystery.