Bouw van het Kinderhuis van het Leger des Heils 1916

This photograph, "Bouw van het Kinderhuis van het Leger des Heils," whose maker and exact date are unknown, captures a moment of building, literally and figuratively. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the textures - brick, wood, and earth - and highlights a tonal range with subtle greys. It makes you wonder, what were the conditions like for this orphanage to be built? It looks hot and humid, so construction work would have been tough. The unfinished brickwork and exposed foundations on the left invite you to consider that, like any creative endeavour, building is a process. And that little brick wall at the front, as if someone started to make a wall, then gave up! It reminds me that some projects never reach their full potential, and that’s ok. It’s as if the camera has captured all of the energy of the build right there. It reminds me of the photos that Bernd and Hilla Becher took of industrial buildings – stark, austere, but full of their own subtle beauty. Like this image, they capture a moment in time, hinting at something bigger.