Uitgegraven goemoek op Oost van Oost. (October 1926.) 1926

This photographic print, made in October 1926 by an anonymous artist, presents us with a monochromatic view of excavated land. I’m immediately drawn to the carved-out earth, imagining the physical act of digging and removing material. The composition is interesting. The artist might have thought about how to capture this alteration of the earth in a single frame. I wonder what the photographer was thinking at that time. Were they perhaps questioning our impact on the environment? The horizontal striations in the soil create a sense of depth, while the vegetation adds a touch of wildness. The ladder on the right side is a stark reminder of human intervention. It connects to the history of land art, where artists use the earth as a canvas, reshaping it to create temporary and often monumental works. As artists, we build upon what came before, responding to and transforming past ideas. This photograph reminds us that art is a continuous exploration, where meaning shifts and evolves with each new work.