The Cause of World War II, 1939-1945 c. 1935

Constance Stuart Larrabee made this photograph, titled 'The Cause of World War II', sometime between 1939 and 1945. You know, looking at this image, I think about how photography, like painting, is about capturing a moment, freezing it in time. Larrabee's composition, the way she frames Hitler amidst his followers, it's all about power, isn’t it? The flags, the salutes, the rigid lines of soldiers - they create a visual language of control. I wonder what Larrabee felt as she took this shot. Did she realize she was documenting a pivotal moment in history? The light is cold, and the tones are muted, which gives the scene a kind of sterile, unsettling feel. It reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter’s blurry, haunting history paintings that are not really paintings, but based on photographs. Ultimately, the process of documenting and reflecting, whether through photography or painting, is a way of grappling with the complexities of our world. It's about trying to make sense of chaos.