Vrienden en schip 1939 - 1942

Curator: Here we have a gelatin-silver print entitled "Friends and Ship," created anonymously between 1939 and 1942. It’s part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: It's stark, isn’t it? Very high contrast. The whole composition feels very intentional, very framed. The blacks are deep. It certainly speaks of a time of solemnity. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about the production of this image, gelatin-silver printing was a common process at the time, relatively accessible, which suggests a more personal, rather than purely artistic, motivation behind the piece. The material tells us something about its place in everyday life. Editor: Yes, and if we zoom in on the picture with the four figures – they’re rigidly posed, their naval uniforms sharply creased, but there is the use of light and shadow which helps define them beyond pure documentary. Curator: The societal role of photography then played a crucial part. Photography became both a way of constructing memory but also projecting strength through state symbolism. The fact these two separate photographs are displayed together is equally important to our interpretation. Editor: Precisely, but that careful composition creates layers within the frame. Look at the parallel lines and strong horizontal emphasis in the ship photograph. How this relates to the same ordering principle governing the placement of photographs on this page. Curator: And placed as a remembrance. The ship below is suggestive of the realities of military life, of labour at sea, reflecting the historical context of its making. What's perhaps been consumed through the creation of this is not only the materials for the photographs, but the lives and service implied within. Editor: True, however the photograph creates such strong patterns. A sort of narrative, as opposed to any real commentary about how it may have been used or what they thought about the work in reality. Curator: It is precisely that narrative woven into these photographs that is so captivating. Thanks for providing such insights. Editor: Indeed. A great start to our tour.