Bouw van de schutsluis bij Andel Possibly 1898

This photograph, titled 'Bouw van de schutsluis bij Andel,' by Arnaud Pistoor & Zoon, captures a lock under construction in August 1899. Executed in monochrome, its composition is dominated by strong horizontal and vertical lines, conveying a sense of rigid industrial order. The bridge cuts across the frame, emphasizing the man-made imposition on the natural environment. The open lock door creates a void, a visual disruption that invites us to consider ideas of transition, passage, and the manipulation of space. The photograph functions as a sign, encoding narratives of progress, modernity and control over nature. Yet, it also hints at an underlying tension. The stark, geometrical forms speak to the ideology of rationalization, while the photograph's stillness and lack of human presence provoke questions about labour, process and the human cost of industrial advancement. It captures a fleeting moment in the ongoing dialogue between man and nature.