Zuiderzeewerken: Bouw van een schutsluis (links) en uitwateringssluizen nabij Den Oever 10 sept. 1928 Possibly 1928 - 1929

This black and white photograph, taken by Fototechnische Dienst K.L.M. in 1928, captures the construction of a lock and drainage sluices near Den Oever. It’s a kind of choreography of human endeavor. I’m drawn to the aerial perspective and the way it flattens the landscape, turning the construction site into an almost abstract composition. Look at the textures, how the rough, uneven surfaces of the land contrast with the smoother areas of water. The dark, blocky shapes of the buildings and structures punctuate the scene, creating a rhythm across the frame. I love the granular quality of the image, the imperfections that give it a sense of authenticity and immediacy, like a raw, unedited mark on a canvas. This photograph reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s typologies of industrial structures, or even some of Ed Ruscha’s deadpan photographs of buildings and parking lots. But what’s unique here is the combination of documentation and abstraction, a reminder that art is as much about seeing as it is about knowing.