Bruggenbouw in Grobogan 1910 - 1928

This work, “Bruggenbouw in Grobogan,” is an anonymous photograph. It’s sepia-toned and shows bridge construction. There's a real sense of grit in these images. I can imagine the photographer, maybe an engineer or a worker, trying to capture a record of progress. The light seems harsh, doesn’t it? It flattens the scene, but it also creates a sense of immediacy. I'm drawn to the arrangement. The way the photos are placed on the page, slightly askew. There’s a casualness that contradicts the serious nature of the construction work. It reminds me of Kurt Schwitters' collages. Do you think the photographer saw himself as an artist? Maybe not, but there’s a compositional awareness here that’s hard to ignore.