Krakkebrug 1905

Jacob Evert Wesenhagen made this photograph called 'Krakkebrug' at an unknown date. Looking at the image, I'm struck by the monochrome palette and the atmospheric haziness. It's like he's not just capturing a scene but also the very air around it. The texture is so interesting. It’s all in the details, right? The way the light catches on the tips of the trees in the background, there is a blur to the landscape, but the eye is drawn to the texture of the broken tree in the foreground, which feels so tangible, you could almost reach out and touch it. The way Wesenhagen has constructed the image as a kind of document reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who photographed industrial structures with such objectivity. But here, the landscape feels somehow fragile. I wonder if this choice reflects on nature's resilience, or perhaps, vulnerability. Art, right, not giving us answers but asking all the questions.