Nieuwe brug over de Woih ni Tanggo Besi 1903 - 1913

This photograph, “Nieuwe brug over de Woih ni Tanggo Besi,” shows us a new bridge, or, perhaps, a bridge being built. The anonymous maker gives us information, but also keeps things from us. I love the texture here, the way the bridge’s supports meet the ravine’s walls. It's a real study in contrasts. See how the light catches the bridge’s supports? It's almost as if the photographer is building up a surface, carving out this image from light and shadow. The neutral palette focuses our attention on the shapes. And there's something about the angle that makes you feel you are observing the scene as it unfolds in time, rather than as a finished moment. It reminds me a little of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographs of industrial structures, but here, we see a bridge that’s less about function and more about transformation. Just like an artist, who is constantly rebuilding and rethinking their work. Ultimately, this image invites us to see the world as a place of continuous change and re-creation.