Isabel Wachenheimer in gestreepte jurk voor een hek op Evi's verjaardag, mei-juni 1937 Possibly 1937

This small black and white photograph captures Isabel Wachenheimer in a striped dress in front of a gate on Evi's birthday in May-June 1937, the work of an unknown artist. I wonder about the person behind the camera, their relationship to Isabel, and how they’re seeing her on this special day. Was the photographer a family member, trying to capture a fleeting moment of childhood joy and awkwardness? I imagine them carefully positioning Isabel, asking her to stand still for just a moment, hoping to preserve this memory forever. The way Isabel clasps her hands together communicates anticipation, or perhaps a bit of shyness. The bars of the gate behind her create an interesting tension, almost like she is caged or restricted in some way. Photography, like painting, is a way of seeing and interpreting the world. Every choice, from composition to lighting, reflects the photographer's unique perspective. I see art as a conversation across time, with artists building on each other's ideas and challenging conventions. The way we interpret it continues to shift and evolve.