Wateruitlaat van een energiecentrale op een onbekende locatie in de Verenigde Staten 1936

Wouter Cool made this gelatin silver print, titled "Wateruitlaat van een energiecentrale op een onbekende locatie in de Verenigde Staten," using photographic processes. The inherent qualities of gelatin silver printing – its tonal range, sharp detail, and capacity to capture a range of textures – are powerfully evident here. Cool’s photographic work often documented engineering and infrastructure projects. In this case, the photograph captures the moment that water rushes from the power plant. The massive scale of the dam is emphasized by the figure of a man in the foreground who is observing the water. Cool’s lens captured not just the physical structure but also the social and economic forces that drove its construction. In its making, photographic processes democratized image production, yet are here directed towards celebrating the product of vast amounts of physical labor. Ultimately, this work reminds us that every photograph is a product of artistic and technical skill, and social context, challenging the traditional distinctions between fine art and documentary.