Brug in brandend Rotterdam Possibly 1940 - 1945

This small, undated photograph of a bridge in burning Rotterdam was made by an anonymous artist. I’m drawn to the subdued, sepia tones, which create a muted yet intense atmosphere, it’s the palette of memory itself. The photograph's texture adds to this sense of the past. There’s a grainy quality, almost like a sketch. The bridge's steel girders dominate the frame, their diagonal lines slicing through the scene, creating dynamic, almost violent angles. Look at the rivets holding the structure together; each one is like a note in a somber song. And then there’s the lone figure on the bridge, gazing towards the burning city. Are they a witness, a survivor, or just a passerby caught in a moment of history? It reminds me of Anselm Kiefer's landscapes, imbued with the weight of history and memory. Like Kiefer, this anonymous photographer embraces ambiguity, leaving us to ponder the complexities of devastation and resilience.