Werkzaamheden aan de 'Willem I' op het Wilhelmina-dok in Amsterdam 1900 - 1902

This photograph shows 'Werkzaamheden aan de 'Willem I' op het Wilhelmina-dok in Amsterdam'— or 'Work on the 'Willem I' at the Wilhelmina dock in Amsterdam'— and was produced anonymously. The photograph is made up of dark browns and grays, with a number of repetitive lines forming the hull of the ship and the ladders. Imagine the photographer, standing on the ground, looking up at the ship, wanting to capture this moment in time, the monumentality of the vessel, the workers on the ground. They’re probably thinking about how to frame the ship, whether they can move back far enough to get the whole ship in the picture, or maybe they’re trying to capture a specific detail. They want to show the viewer what it’s like to be there, looking at the ship, the ladders in front. It seems like they are in conversation with other artists and photographers. This photograph is about capturing a moment, but it also speaks to the broader theme of industry, work, and how we interact with our environment.