Conowingo Dam, bij Perryville, Maryland, Verenigde Staten 1936

This photograph by Wouter Cool captures the Conowingo Dam in Perryville, Maryland. The dam presents a stark facade, its architectural form echoing ancient aqueducts, like the Roman Pont du Gard. The imposing structure brings to mind the human desire to control nature. Dams, throughout history, symbolize power, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern America. The careful construction, reminiscent of ziggurats and temples, highlights the ambition to command the natural world. Consider the psychological impact of such structures. They promise security and control, yet they also evoke a sense of vulnerability. The dam, a modern leviathan, embodies both mastery and the precariousness of our position in the face of nature's forces. This duality resonates deeply, echoing ancient myths of floods and the hubris of human endeavor. The image of the dam is a recurring motif, a testament to our enduring quest to shape the world.