Kerstfeest bij de Reichsbahn Possibly 1943

These photographs, with no known date, by an anonymous artist, use dark tones, particularly in the figures’ clothing. There is an understanding of art-making as a process, it looks like some sort of performance. The material aspects of the work are really striking - the texture created by the monochrome film. The darkness contrasts sharply with the brightness of the Nazi symbol hanging in the background, in both images. There is a feeling of transparency here as the photographs give access to the scene that was staged. In the first photograph, the figure in the dark military-style uniform appears to be giving the figure in the flowery dressing gown something. It relates to the performance as a whole because you see both figures playing a part. The photograph is very much like the photographs of Cindy Sherman and the work of other artists who are interested in performance. I love how art acts as an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, like a party line where everybody has something to say.