Gezicht op de Dam met het versierde beeld 'De Eendracht', beter bekend als 'Naatje van de Dam' 1901 - 1902

Here’s an old photograph of the Dam Square with the decorated statue ‘De Eendracht’, or ‘Naatje van de Dam’, snapped by an anonymous photographer. I love how this image embraces the accidents of the photographic process. Look at the way the gray tones dominate, creating a sense of depth. There’s a blurring of the figures on the right, suggesting a ghostlike presence, and emphasizing the activity of the city through the materiality of the photograph itself. The composition is dynamic, drawing our eyes to the center and then upward towards the decorated statue. The garlands draped around the statue almost feel like thick brushstrokes, lending a tactile quality to the image. It reminds me of Atget's photographs of Paris, where the city becomes a stage for everyday life, captured in a moment of transition. With its embrace of imperfection, this photograph reminds us of the beauty found in the process of seeing and recording, rather than in seeking a perfect, idealized image.