Schip in droogdok 1940 - 1943

This tiny photograph of a ship in a dry dock is from an anonymous maker. I’m getting a real sense of being there in the moment of its creation; in the thick of it, documenting an impressive vessel in what feels like a state of transition. I imagine the photographer’s interest in capturing the textures and forms of the industrial landscape with its stark contrast. You can feel the weight of the ship, and that smokestack rising high above. It's interesting to think about how different ways of seeing offer different ways of thinking and feeling. This little photo reminds me of some of the black-and-white photography of Walker Evans. It's that same desire to document the reality of a specific place and time. Photography, like painting, can be a form of embodied expression, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.