Gezicht op de Kolk te Rotterdam, met op de achtergrond de Sint-Laurenskerk before 1894

This photogravure of the Kolk in Rotterdam, with the Sint-Laurenskerk in the background, is by Charles L. Mitchell and is part of a larger book. Rotterdam, a city that has continually negotiated its identity through periods of growth, destruction, and rebirth. This image offers a glimpse into a moment in Rotterdam's history, likely before the devastating bombings of World War II, which dramatically altered the city's landscape. As we observe the tranquil waters of the Kolk reflecting the architecture and the towering presence of the Sint-Laurenskerk, one might consider the city as a character. What does it mean to witness a place not just as a physical location, but as a repository of memories, dreams, and resilience? This photogravure invites us to reflect on Rotterdam’s layered identity, a place deeply shaped by its past, and continuously reimagining its future.