Ruïnes van gebouwen aan de Hoogstraat te Rotterdam c. 1940 - 1945

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, "Ruins of buildings on the Hoogstraat in Rotterdam," believed to be taken between 1940 and 1945 by J. Nolte, is profoundly unsettling. The sheer devastation captures the weight of war, turning a cityscape into an almost alien landscape. What story do you think this image tells about its historical moment? Curator: It tells a story of trauma and resilience, primarily. As a historian, I immediately think of the socio-political context. The destruction likely resulted from the Rotterdam Blitz in 1940. Nolte’s photograph doesn't just show ruins; it makes a potent statement about the impact of war on civilian life and urban spaces. How do you think its distribution through photography shaped public perception during and after the war? Editor: It seems like this photograph acts as both a document and a memorial, influencing collective memory, I guess. The city, represented as ruins, becomes a symbol. Was the photograph also possibly used for propaganda purposes? Curator: Absolutely. Photography served various purposes, including documenting the aftermath for reconstruction efforts but also influencing public morale and potentially shaping narratives around victimhood and resistance. Note how the street leads our eye into the distance - consider how the composition affects how the viewer engages with the photograph’s political dimensions. Did Nolte consciously choose that composition, do you think? Editor: That’s an interesting point. Maybe it's an intentional gaze to a future for the ruined city, although the people walking in the street also create an ominous mood. I hadn’t considered the propagandistic potential so explicitly before. Curator: Considering art’s role in reflecting and shaping historical narratives certainly enriches our understanding. Editor: Definitely, I see now it is a complex mix of memorial, document, and political statement! Thank you.