print, photography, gelatin-silver-print
landscape
photography
gelatin-silver-print
cityscape
early-renaissance
realism
Dimensions height 294 mm, width 421 mm
This photo, shot by Arnaud Pistoor & Zoon in February 1901, captures the foundations of two anchor piers and a pivot pier. Can you feel the weight of the engineering and the human labor that went into this construction? The monochromatic palette creates a sense of starkness. Imagine the construction workers amidst the piles of wood. What were they thinking as they placed the foundations? I feel a connection with them, as makers. What I see here is not just a literal depiction, but the essence of something felt. It's almost like they are laying down the foundations of an abstract painting. The visual language speaks to a deeper human desire to build, to connect, to leave a mark. It’s not so different from what artists seek to do.
Comments
From around 1850 the Dutch government built a dense network of canals, rivers, bridges, and railways throughout the country. The photographic documentation of public works was a statutory part of the construction process. Accordingly, the photographer Pistoor and his sons recorded the building of the bridge over the Oude Maas River at Spijkenisse. The photographs convey a fascinating image of a country in motion.
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