Groote materialengoedang. (Mei 1926.) 1926

This photograph, Groote materialengoedang (Mei 1926), was taken in May 1926 by an anonymous photographer. Looking at this image, I'm immediately struck by the layered effect of light and shadow. The monochromatic palette forces us to focus on the structural forms. It’s all about the contrast, the way light reveals the textures and the way shadow obscures them, which is such a key thing when thinking about photography as a medium. The composition feels so deliberate. There's a balance in the framing of the warehouse against the open field, and the use of light creates a sense of depth, pulling me into the scene. When I look at the scaffolding around the building, I see lines creating new shapes and shadows. I love the tension between what’s visible and what’s hidden. It reminds me of some of the early modernist photographers who were playing with form and perspective, like Alfred Stieglitz. But, unlike Stieglitz's work, there are few certainties here. And that's what makes this photograph so compelling – it's more about the questions it raises than the answers it provides.