OA

De buitenwereld binnenhalen

Bringing in the outside world. Russians in the Amsterdam cubbyhole of Etty Hillesum

Between 1937 and 1943, the Dutch diarist and spiritual philosopher Etty Hillesum (1914-1943) lived in a small room on the second floor of Gabriël Metsustraat 6, Amsterdam. In her diary, she presents an account of what she observes from her window, which overlooked the current Museum Square. But she also reports of another “outside world” that is brought in: that of the Russian authors whose portraits adorn her room. Posing against the background of this decorated wall, Hillesum seems to perform a little-known part of her identity. This article offers a combined analysis of the diary and photo portraits.