Bestek nr. 217, dienst 1903, 1905 Possibly 1904 - 1918

Arnaud Pistoor & Zoon made this photograph, titled Bestek nr. 217, dienst 1903, 1905, way back in 1905. Look at how the gray water runs horizontally across the landscape, cutting through the riverbanks. I’m curious about the kind of labor Pistoor & Zoon captured. The black and gray tones and overall composition suggests a somber mood, yet I imagine the photographer wanting to express the significance of their work. I wonder how long it took to set up the shot? How much did they want to document the process? Photographs like this remind me of the power of machines and industry. I feel connected to the past and wonder if the artists felt a similar way about the future. What conversations were they having back then? What kind of exchange were they hoping to inspire for the next generation? I love the ambiguity; it allows for so many interpretations.