Schade aan de Bijenkorf te Rotterdam c. 1940 - 1945

This photograph, by J. Nolte, shows the damage to the Bijenkorf department store in Rotterdam. It's a black and white image, likely made using traditional darkroom processes. The power of this image lies in the raw materiality of destruction. You can see the twisted metal and shattered concrete, remnants of a building brought low. The Bijenkorf was a symbol of commerce and consumerism, and its partial ruin speaks to the fragility of such systems in the face of conflict. Consider the labor involved, both in the original construction and in the aftermath depicted here. The photograph reminds us that even the most solid structures are ultimately made by human hands, and can be unmade, too. It’s a blunt lesson, but clearly delivered.