Mostar in Joegoslavië, april 1943 1943 - 1944

These photographs of Mostar in Yugoslavia, were captured in April 1943 by an anonymous artist, and assembled in an album. The whole album as an artwork is especially poignant. Photography is often about catching moments, and in this case the way the photographs are laid out creates a sense of rhythm. The black and white lends a timeless quality, and the framing within the album adds to the sense of a personal narrative unfolding. Looking at the individual images, I am struck by the contrast between the man-made and the natural environment, with mountains in the background. Then there are the people. The image of the two women in shawls standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing body warmth, is incredibly moving. The texture of the photographic paper itself, its aged quality, adds another layer of depth. This album reminds me of the work of Gerhard Richter, who also used photographs in series, to explore themes of memory and history. It’s a reminder that art is often about framing, sequencing, and about the conversations that arise between images.