Opzichterswoning / Brugbouw Wittewaterkreek 1907

This is an anonymous photograph, documenting the Opzichterswoning and bridge construction at Wittewaterkreek. It's monochromatic, and the image is soft, with a limited tonal range, so we're getting this distilled record of the scene. Looking closely, the way the sunlight hits the simple wooden house, you notice the textures of the trees, and the reflection of light on the water. The contrast between light and shadow creates this feeling of depth. The eye moves around the photograph, taking in the overall composition, but it also stops at these smaller details. It’s a reminder that art is also a kind of record-keeping, bearing witness, even when the maker remains unknown. Think of Bernd and Hilla Becher and their typologies of industrial buildings, or some of the New Topographics photographers. Like them, this work shows us something about the world, a way of seeing it.