Ruïnes van gebouwen bij de Oostzeedijk te Rotterdam, met molen en publiek c. 1940 - 1945

This photograph by J. Nolte captures the Ruins of buildings near the Oostzeedijk in Rotterdam, featuring a windmill and onlookers. I can imagine Nolte here with his camera trying to make sense of the devastation around him. He’s probably wondering how this place will ever recover while trying to find some kind of order in the scene. The way the horizon line cuts through the middle of the composition, with the windmill on one side and the destruction on the other—it’s all about contrasts. It’s about trying to find balance in the chaos. I wonder, what was it like to be there, witnessing that scene? I can almost feel the weight of history and the precariousness of life. Yet, the windmill stubbornly remains, symbolizing resilience, endurance, and the hope of renewal. Like all great artists, Nolte helps us to see and feel more deeply.