Twee foto's van twee stellen in de duinen van Noordwijk 1917 - 1918

These two photographs of couples in the dunes of Noordwijk are from an anonymous album. The images, in black and white, capture moments of affection and leisure, framed by the natural landscape. Look at the texture in these photos, the way the light catches the tall grass. It feels almost palpable, doesn't it? The contrast between the darks of the figures and the pale sky, it's a simple palette but it speaks volumes. See the couple with the umbrella? The way the photographer has positioned them, nestled in the dunes, it's as if they're part of the landscape. The umbrella, a pale spot, catches the light and draws your eye. It's these details, these simple gestures, that give the photos their depth. I am reminded of some of the work of the filmmaker, Agnes Varda, where the subjects are ordinary, and their lives unremarkable, yet in the telling, they are imbued with a universal beauty. Art is like that, it takes the everyday and makes it extraordinary.