Bovenstoomgemaal Prins Alexander / Kralingscheveer 18 September 1869 Possibly 1869

Jacobus van Gorkom Jr. created this photograph of Bovenstoomgemaal Prins Alexander in 1869. It's a study in the contrast between the man-made and the natural, rendered in tones of sepia. Notice how the composition is structured around a strong vertical element – the chimney. This architectural form pierces the horizontal landscape, drawing the eye upwards. A bridge extends to the left of the building, with the buildings creating a symmetrical rhythm across the scene. It draws us in, but ultimately, there is an acceptance of a certain industrial encroachment. The photograph speaks to broader themes of its time - the transformation of the Dutch landscape through engineering. Van Gorkom invites us to contemplate our relationship with the spaces we inhabit. The photograph, in its stark simplicity, is a meditation on the changing landscape. The act of viewing it becomes a consideration of what we value in our environment.