Haven 1940 - 1943

Editor: This gelatin silver print, titled "Haven," dates back to the 1940s. The print is pasted in an album at the Rijksmuseum. There's a quiet stillness about this image. The monochrome palette really emphasises that feeling, do you feel it too? What stands out to you the most when you look at it? Curator: Oh, absolutely. That stillness… It's funny, it’s almost audible to me. Like a memory of a day by the water. But what grabs me most is this idea of 'Haven'. Given the timeframe, between 1940 and 1943, and well… what was brewing in the world, that title resonates deeply. It’s not *just* a scene of a harbour; it’s about the search for a safe space. Don’t you think? Editor: That's a very interesting point. So, this work would suggest not just a physical safe harbor, but almost a symbol for psychological protection? Curator: Exactly! Perhaps it’s also wishful thinking embedded in the image, like longing to see the war receding into the distance and focusing on what matters, such as the safe return to simple joys of life! Are the ships going away, or are they coming home? That uncertainty mirrors the unease of the time, doesn’t it? The water has a story to tell here. It's so poetic if you consider this wasn’t necessarily meant as art. This also feels deeply personal for me, not merely for the sake of remembrance, but it whispers promises of return from far journeys, real or imaginary. What are your thoughts? Editor: I’m left wondering about all of the lives intersecting at this moment. Your interpretation adds so much depth; it definitely encourages one to look beyond the surface. Thank you. Curator: It works both ways: talking out loud helps solidify personal meanings.