Coolsingel met Beursgebouw 1940

Here is a page from an album with photographs by Alie Rondberg-Vrauwdêunt showing Coolsingel with Beursgebouw, the Rotterdam Stock Exchange. The photographs depict a street scene, and the aftermath of apparent destruction. These photographs are artifacts of collective memory. Consider the image of the destroyed cityscape, a scene of desolation. Its visual echoes reverberate through history, reminiscent of images of Pompeii, or even more ancient ruins. Destruction as a cultural motif is deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. It is a scene of absolute devastation, yet it also speaks to the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth, a theme mirrored in ancient mythologies and rituals. The psychological impact is powerful. The image evokes feelings of loss, vulnerability, and perhaps, resilience. We must remember, as history shows, that even from ruins, something new can emerge.