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

J. Nolte captured this view of the ruins on Hoogstraat in Rotterdam with a camera. I wish I knew when. The photograph shows the aftermath of what appears to be a devastating event; the monochrome palette adds to the sombre atmosphere. I can almost feel the dust and rubble beneath my feet as I look at this scene. Imagine Nolte standing here, framing this shot, trying to make sense of the chaos. What was going through their mind? The skeletal remains of buildings reach towards the sky like ghostly figures. There is a textured surface, with piles of debris scattered across the landscape, and a stark contrast between light and shadow. Photographs like this are a reminder that artists are always in conversation with each other, responding to the world around them in their unique ways. Whether it's through painting, photography, or any other medium, we're all trying to make sense of the human experience, one gesture at a time.