Portret van Isabel Wachenheimer, bedoeld als eerste tekenen van leven aan een onbekende afzender, 25 september 1945 in Davos Possibly 1945 - 1949

This portrait of Isabel Wachenheimer, made on September 25, 1945, in Davos, is a photograph, likely taken on readily available photographic paper of the time. As a medium, photography in 1945 was no longer experimental, but instead a highly industrialized process, one that relies on chemical reactions and standardized materials. The act of taking this photograph then becomes incredibly important, as the sitter makes a request for an image as "first sign of life to an unknown addressee," we have a clue as to the urgency and importance of the image. The image is a material artifact of the time it was created and used as a medium, becoming a lifeline. The portrait is intimate and humanizing, demonstrating the power of photography as a vital means of communication and connection in the post-war era. By understanding the materials, process, and context, we can appreciate the true significance of what might otherwise seem like a simple snapshot.