Zijaanzicht van de tuin en woning van Willy Moos (Bellevue 62), vermoedelijk 1928, Hamburg 1928

These gelatin silver prints, probably from 1928 in Hamburg, show the garden and house of Willy Moos. What strikes me is the way the anonymous photographer composes these scenes. It’s not just documentation, it’s about framing a particular way of life, a quiet domesticity. Look at the top image, the eye is drawn to the strong horizontals of the hedge and the way the trees are cropped, as if we are only getting a glimpse into this secluded world. In the lower image, the bench and table become focal points, suggesting a space for contemplation and rest. There's a tactile quality to the prints; you can almost feel the texture of the grass and the bark of the trees. I am reminded of the photographic works of artists like Ed Ruscha who share an interest in the vernacular, capturing seemingly mundane scenes and imbuing them with a sense of poetry and quiet reflection. These images remind us that even in the most ordinary of settings, there is beauty and meaning to be found.