Gezicht op de Westzeedijk te Rotterdam met rookwolken op de achtergrond c. 1940 - 1945

This black and white photograph by J. Nolte captures a scene along the Westzeedijk in Rotterdam, with smoke billowing in the background. I imagine Nolte, seeing the plumes of smoke rise, quickly composing the scene. Look at how he juxtaposes the placid street scene with the distant chaos. What was he thinking as he framed this shot? Was he trying to capture a moment of disruption, or to find a sense of order amidst the turmoil? This image is so still and considered, yet the event it depicts is anything but. It's almost like Nolte is saying, "Life goes on," even when the world is on fire. Photographs are often viewed as objective, yet I think Nolte is communicating his personal response to an event.