Moerdijk brug Possibly 1941 - 1945

This small photograph, titled Moerdijk brug, captures a bridge in what looks like muted tones, maybe it's the film, maybe it was a grey day. Looking at this piece I'm drawn to the lower right corner where the edge of what I think is land meets the water. The photograph isn’t trying to hide itself – the texture of the paper is rough, raw, and almost topographical, like a landscape. It’s like the anonymous artist is saying, hey, this is just a thing I made, not some kind of grand statement. The photograph reminds me of some of Bernd and Hilla Becher's work, whose deadpan images of industrial structures are also about documenting a moment in time. But where the Bechers have this austerity, this photograph has a slightly warmer feel. It embraces the everyday, seeing the beauty in a simple bridge. Maybe that’s the real subject here – the idea that art can be found in the most unexpected places.