Baustelle (Construction Site) 1954

This is Peter Keetman's "Construction Site", a gelatin silver print. He made it sometime in the twentieth century, no one really knows when. I like to think that Keetman was interested in the balance between the physical act of construction and the artistic process. I love the textures here. There’s a stark contrast between the rough, unfinished construction site and the smooth surfaces of the street and vehicles below. The strong shadows cast by the figures walking by almost seem to mimic the angular wooden beams of the construction site. Notice the cluster of people near the bottom left corner, some sitting, some walking – a spontaneous gathering. It reminds me of a stage, and the workers above, they’re putting on a show, building a world. Like the Bechers, Keetman seemed drawn to industry, but there's a human energy here which they often lacked. Both point to the beauty in the everyday.