Ruïnes van een kerk te Rotterdam c. 1940 - 1945

This photograph, titled ‘Ruïnes van een kerk te Rotterdam’ was made by J. Nolte. We don't know when, but the image describes a process – devastation. The stark black and white palette throws into sharp relief the skeletal remains of the church. I’m drawn to the area just above the rubble in the foreground, where the building’s charred remains stand against the pale sky. It is a beautiful study in tone and texture. See how the broken arches mirror the bare tree limbs to the right, creating a visual echo of destruction and resilience. The eye jumps back and forth between the architecture and the nature. It reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings of Roman ruins, the way he romanticized decay, hinting at the passage of time and the fragility of human endeavors. It speaks to the cyclical nature of destruction and creation, something all us artists think about when we are at the easel! Nolte’s image is not just a record, it's a meditation.