Schut- en Uitwateringssluis ten Westen van de Nieuwe Statenzijl 1907 Possibly 1907

Tonnis Post made this photograph of the Schut- en Uitwateringssluis ten Westen van de Nieuwe Statenzijl in 1907. In this gelatin silver print, we see the raw materials of infrastructure. The image captures the labor-intensive construction of a lock and drainage system. The scene is dominated by timber, earth, and stone, revealing the physical demands of early 20th-century engineering. Notice the unprocessed logs, the rough-hewn stones, and the sheer volume of material needed for this ambitious project. Consider the anonymous laborers who shaped and assembled these components. The photograph is not just a record of a civil engineering project, but also a testament to the collective effort and human power required to transform the landscape. It also makes you think about the social implications inherent in the construction of these structures, particularly in the context of labor, politics, and consumption during that era. This image invites us to look beyond the finished structure and appreciate the materials, labor, and context involved in its creation, urging us to reconsider the boundary between craft, design, and fine art.