Katalin

I noticed Katalin a few months ago, on the alleys of a small village inhabited by ethnic Hungarians in Transylvania, Romania. This lovely woman was holding some herbs from her garden. She was eager to offer them as a gift to another lady from the village.

When I look at Katalin, I see a whole generation of Eastern Europeans who have been through difficult times, but learned to see the beauty of simple pleasures.

As children, they witnessed the second world war at its epicentre. Then an abrupt and painful transition to communism and cruel dictators. Then another painful transition to capitalism. But there was also a lot of happiness in their life, because they valued even the little things. Maybe that’s why this small bundle of herbs looks like a treasure in Katalin’s hands.

Seen by 'The Atlas of Beauty', a woman who travels the world.