Bestek nr. 217, dienst 1903, 1905 Possibly 1904 - 1918

This photograph, made around 1905 by Arnaud Pistoor & Zoon, presents the kind of stark reality that feels both familiar and strange. It’s like looking at a black and white painting, where the grays aren't just shades, but active players shaping the scene. Check out the texture here, it’s not just about what’s depicted, but how it’s shown. The water isn’t smooth; it’s got this rippled, almost fabric-like quality, contrasted with the solid, geometric shapes of the boats doing their work. The clouds are just as busy, swirling and heavy, like they’re made of wet wool. And there’s this little map in the corner, neatly diagrammed, that grounds the whole scene. It’s like the artists are saying, "Yeah, this is real, this place exists." But the mood, you know, that's what sticks with you, that melancholic quiet. Think Bernd and Hilla Becher, they would have liked this I reckon. It's like a silent conversation about seeing and knowing.