Take a journey through the photographic imagination of Rotterdam’s urban landscape. It begins with a photograph from 1843 and continues through contemporary drone and panoramic photography.Over 300 photographs, taken by professional and amateur photographers, reveal the development of photography over 180 years. These photographers challenge us to find new ways to see, observe and photograph. They include: Hans Aarsman, Iwan Baan, Eva Besnyö, Henri Berssenbrugge, Johann Georg Hameter, Helena van der Kraan, Jannes Linders, Cas Oorthuys and Otto Snoek.
Rotterdam after World War II
Rotterdam is shown in diverse ways by photographers throughout history. In post war Rotterdam Cas Oorthuys, Henk Jonker and Aart Klein show an orderly, bright and modern city where empty spaces symbolize progress. Photography from the 1960s and 1970s by Carel Blazer and Onno Meeter, offer a new colourful perspective on the city and reflect the social and economic challenges of the time. In the 1980s and 1990s, Jannes Linders and Gilbert Fastenaekens shattered the myth of orderly Rotterdam. They captured industrial estates, vacant buildings and forgotten places allowing the “urban landscape” to flourish as a photographic genre.
Icons and spectacular architecture
See how Rotterdam’s city centre has developed into a place of icons and spectacular architecture. The striking skyline, the Erasmus Bridge and contemporary high-rises like the Zalmhaven Tower come to mind. Photographers such as Lou Muuse and Janine Schrijver capture the city from unique perspectives – revealing both the aesthetics and the social significance of the urban environment. Their images pose the question: “Who owns the city?” and demonstrate how photography contributes to the collective memory, urban identity and engagement of residents.
Archival gems and special loans
Many vintage photographs are being shown for the first time, including 42 rare stereoscopic images from a private collection. There is also a six-metre-long panorama by Siebe Swart on display, which has never been displayed in Rotterdam. Special loans include photographs from the Dutch Royal Collections, the Rotterdam City Archives and the Maria Austria Institute.