Tijdens de overtocht van Frankrijk naar de Verenigde Staten, Atlantische Oceaan: ontmoeting met de S.S. Rotterdam 1936

Wouter Cool captured this monochrome photograph, titled "Tijdens de overtocht van Frankrijk naar de Verenigde Staten, Atlantische Oceaan: ontmoeting met de S.S. Rotterdam," a seemingly candid shot of a ship at sea. The composition is dominated by horizontal bands of sea and sky, lending the scene a sense of expansiveness, while the ship itself cuts a diagonal line through the middle ground. The photograph's formal structure evokes a sense of temporality—a fleeting encounter on the open water. Here, the structuralist approach allows us to consider the relationships between elements: the ship as a signifier of travel and connection, the sea and sky as symbols of boundless possibility. The image destabilizes any fixed meaning, inviting us to reflect on themes of transit, encounters, and the human relationship with the natural world. Note the stark contrast between the solid mass of the ship and the fluid textures of the water and clouds, creating a play of light and shadow that animates the scene. Ultimately, this artwork reminds us that meaning is not inherent but constructed through the interplay of form, context, and interpretation.