Verwoeste schuur en huis in een ondergelopen buitenwijk van Parijs 1910 - 1911

Here's a photograph by G. Dangereux, showing a flooded Parisian suburb, with a destroyed barn and house. I see it in monochrome, where light reflects off the surface of the water. Imagine the artist, maybe knee-deep in water, composing the shot. A process of constant adjustment and re-evaluation must have been involved. What's the best angle to capture the devastation? What does it feel like to document such a scene of ruin? The water has an uncanny stillness, reflecting the scene above. The destroyed barn in the foreground leads to a house, where the water laps at the windows. The scene evokes a feeling of desolation and loss. A reminder of our vulnerability in the face of natural disasters. It reminds me of Gustave Courbet who was also interested in depicting everyday life and the impact of historical events on the landscape. Dangereux uses photography to express ideas about time, place, and the human condition. The image reminds us that artists are always in conversation with one another.