Gezicht op de ruïnes op de (Korte) Hoogstraat, het Hang en het Steiger te Rotterdam c. 1940 - 1945

This photograph shows the ruins in Rotterdam after the bombing, taken by J. Nolte, we don’t know exactly when. It’s all greys and blacks, and the texture looks granular, like it's built up from tiny particles of dust and ash. The emotional weight of this piece comes from its stark depiction of destruction. It’s so direct. Look closely at the way the light catches on the broken edges of the buildings. The details really matter. The composition is built around this canal, which cuts through the scene like a gash, reflecting the sky. Everything leads your eye back to that. Thinking about other artists, someone like Anselm Kiefer comes to mind, someone who also deals with history and memory through the use of materials and a muted palette. This work is a potent reminder of how art can bear witness, offering multiple interpretations of trauma and resilience.