Aanleg havenwerken Feijenoord, Rotterdam 1875

This photograph, taken by Julius Perger, shows the construction of the Feijenoord harbor in Rotterdam. The eye is immediately drawn to the textured surfaces of the stone walls and wooden frameworks, which dominate the foreground. The grayscale palette lends a documentary feel, emphasizing the raw materiality of the industrial landscape. The composition is structured by strong horizontal lines and converging diagonals, creating a sense of depth that pulls the viewer into the scene. The lines of the railway tracks mirror the receding perspective, leading toward the ship and smokestacks in the distance. This directs us to consider the relationship between the foreground's construction site and the larger network of global trade and industrial activity. The photograph invites us to consider how space is organized and experienced in an era of rapid industrialization. By drawing attention to the formal elements—the lines, textures, and compositional arrangement—Perger’s photograph prompts us to reflect on how the spaces of modernity are constructed and perceived.