Oh my god, this new unexpected, poignant context takes the whole thing to another level.
However: the painting looks pristine compared to the room it is hanging in, so maybe it was placed there long after the building (the entire town, maybe?) was abandoned, for the photo. If so, it was a master stroke, as this image tells several profound stories on several simultaneous levels.
In situ
Oh my god, this new unexpected, poignant context takes the whole thing to another level.
However: the painting looks pristine compared to the room it is hanging in, so maybe it was placed there long after the building (the entire town, maybe?) was abandoned, for the photo. If so, it was a master stroke, as this image tells several profound stories on several simultaneous levels.
It’s really hard to tell. I imagine mould and bird poop would have done something to it if it was an original picture back in 1986 when they fled.