Twee mannen leggen zeewering aan bij Borrendamme op Schouwen-Duiveland 1883 - 1900

This photograph by Carl Emil Mögle captures two men constructing a sea defense at Borrendamme in the Netherlands. The image is rendered in sepia tones, typical of early photography. The materials at hand—stone and timber—are presented not as picturesque elements, but as the very stuff of hard labor. You can almost feel the weight of the stones, the rough texture of the wood. Note how the photograph doesn’t romanticize the scene; instead, it shows the unglamorous, physical work required to protect the land. The rough-hewn construction contrasts starkly with any notion of fine art. Yet, in its own way, it's a powerful aesthetic statement about the relationship between human effort and the environment, raising questions about the social conditions of labor and the essential role of craft in shaping our world. This image challenges us to reconsider what we value as art, and to recognize the beauty and dignity in everyday making.