Ruïnes aan de Meent met personen op straat c. 1940 - 1945

This photograph, Ruïnes aan de Meent met personen op straat, by J. Nolte captures a moment in time, though the exact date remains a mystery to us. It’s a study in monochrome, shades of gray blending to create a scene of urban life amidst ruins. There's a softness to the tones that almost feels like charcoal. The light isn't hitting any particular thing in the scene; instead it seems to be just hovering in the air, turning everything into a flat, even kind of tone. It’s impossible to ignore the texture of the scene. The rubble on the right side of the frame makes you want to reach out and touch it. It reminds me of how Schwitters used found objects to create beauty. There's something really beautiful in the mundane and discarded. I think this photograph is a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.