Ruïnes rondom de Leuvehaven te Rotterdam met schepen c. 1940 - 1945

Curator: What a sobering image. This gelatin-silver print by J. Nolte captures 'Ruins around the Leuvehaven in Rotterdam with ships' sometime between 1940 and 1945. The stark cityscape conveys so much... Editor: The overwhelming grey flattens everything. My immediate sense is one of profound loss. A wrecked boat dominates the foreground. Curator: Absolutely. The ruin speaks of devastation, but the persistence of the water – reflecting the sky – hints at resilience. Consider how the artist chose black and white to remove distractions, forcing us to focus on form and texture. Editor: And those damaged vessels become powerful symbols. They aren't just boats; they are metaphors for a broken society. Water often represents the subconscious, life, movement; even in this state it offers a means for new reflections. Curator: The silhouette of the buildings in the background also seems incredibly deliberate; a kind of defiant beauty amidst utter destruction, almost haunting, don't you think? What story are the survivors writing from within that architectural presence? Editor: You're right. I am wondering whether people find symbols of continuity in what persists despite hardship. Are those remnants a bridge to reclaiming what was destroyed, a path through this devastation toward re-building? Curator: Nolte doesn’t offer easy answers. Look at that lone figure on the left. Almost an afterthought. He’s dwarfed, seemingly observing – maybe contemplating or mourning what was left behind? It really places our own observation into question. Editor: His stance definitely provokes curiosity, though from what cultural and historic viewpoint? Ultimately, perhaps images of urban wreckage tell a story we, as the future generations, write ourselves. Curator: Exactly, perhaps there is space to add our own voice by pondering what becomes the point when starting over? Thank you! A deeply reflective thought! Editor: My pleasure, that kind of thoughtful conversation helps so much to delve a little bit deeper into an artwork's story!