Ruïnes van gebouwen aan de Aegidiusstraat te Rotterdam c. 1940 - 1945

J. Nolte made this photograph of the ruins of buildings on Aegidiusstraat in Rotterdam. Photography is a documentary medium, reliant on light hitting a photosensitive surface – in this case, likely a silver gelatin print. The image confronts us with the harsh realities of war, transforming architecture into fragmented piles of rubble. The buildings that once housed homes and businesses are now reduced to their basic components: brick, stone, and mortar, all brutally exposed. The photograph serves as a stark reminder of the destructive force of conflict. But it also prompts us to consider the labor involved in constructing these buildings, brick by brick, and the lives of those who inhabited them. Nolte invites us to reflect on the deep connection between materials, making, and the social context in which objects and structures exist. It’s a potent reminder that the built environment is not just a collection of inert materials, but a reflection of human effort, aspirations, and vulnerability.