Vrouw met framboesia 1929

This photograph of a woman with framboesia comes from the Hospitaal Batak Instituut, probably taken around 1929. It's a gelatin silver print, which gives it a grayscale palette, focusing our attention on the subject's form. It feels like the process is stripped down, a raw capturing of a moment. Looking at the woman's posture, the way she holds her arm, there's a palpable sense of resilience and vulnerability. The texture of the image, the slight graininess, adds to this feeling. This makes you consider how documentation can also be about empathy and understanding. It reminds me of some of August Sander’s portraits. Ultimately, this image serves as a reminder that art, even in the form of a medical record, can be a powerful tool for connection and reflection.