Geopotes c. 1900 - 1910

Henricus Jacobus Tollens made this photograph of 'Geopotes' – a barge or dredging vessel. The vessel’s cranes and mechanical arms dominate the composition, invoking the ancient symbol of human ingenuity. These vertical lines and reaching forms are echoes of obelisks and religious iconography, representing mankind’s aspiration to reach the divine. Consider the Tower of Babel – a symbol of ambition, transformation, and the hubris of human endeavor. The Geopotes’ presence on the water further alludes to the ceaseless flow of time and change. In the vessel, there’s a dance between creation and destruction, as the vessel is used to dredge the earth. The act of dredging might bring to mind ideas of transformation and change. The vessel becomes a complex signifier, linking man's technological advancements to a timeless struggle.