Dorp, vermoedelijk in Transvaal, Zuid-Afrika 1967 - 1971

This is a small black and white photographic artwork titled "Dorp, vermoedelijk in Transvaal, Zuid-Afrika" (Village, presumably in Transvaal, South Africa) by Willem Jacob van den Berg. The photograph is divided into two panels, each capturing a scene from the village. Note the stark contrast between the dark structures and the lighter, open spaces, creating a visual rhythm. The thatched roofs form geometric patterns, and the bare trees punctuate the skyline, adding a layer of complexity to the composition. The framing of these images invites us to consider how the photographer is presenting this village, not as a seamless whole, but as a series of fragments. Van den Berg seems to deconstruct the idea of community by focusing on individual structures. There is a flattening effect here too. The photograph’s lack of depth challenges traditional perspective, pushing us to rethink our notions of space.