STADSLANDSCHAPPEN / URBAN LANDSCAPES.

BASILICO, Gabriele (Photographer), John Davies (Photographer), Gilbert Fastenaekens (Photographer), Jannes Linders (Photographer), Sjoerd Cusveller (Ed), Joop De Jong (Ed), Bas Vroege (Ed).

Published by Uitgeverij 010 Publishers, Rotterdam, 1986 First Edition. Wraps., 1986

Since the majority of architectural products reach us only via photographs, the photography of architecture is a determining factor in our picturing and appreciation of architectonic reality. This publication shows work by four renowned photographers who have developed a personal style that clearly distinguishes them from each other. The photographs reproduced are the results of an assignment carried out in Rotterdam in the summer of 1986. Gabriele Basilico (Italy) was formerly an architect and concentrates strongly on an individual building. More often than not he succeeds in recording aspects of its essence in his classic looking pictures. John Davies (England) is a master of landscape-like views with a wealth of details and composition that clarifies functional connections between various (architectonic) visual elements. The Belgian Gilbert Fastenaekens worked solely at night which, in this interpretation, makes the city into an unreal architectonic decor. The Dutch photographer Jannes Linders directs his gaze mainly at situations in the urban environment in which formal and informal structures are juxtaposed and mixed up.

Omdat het merendeel van de architectonische produktie ons slechts via foto’s bereikt, is de fotografie van architectuur bepalend voor de beeldvorming en waardering van de architectonische werkelijkheid. Deze uitgave toont werk van vier gerenommeerde architectuurfotografen die een duidelijk van elkaar te onderscheiden persoonlijke stijl hebben ontwikkeld. De afgebeelde foto’s zijn resultaten van een opdracht die in de zomer van 1986 in Rotterdam werd uitgevoerd. Gabriele Basilico (Italië) concentreert zich als voormalig architect sterk op een zelfstandig gebouw. Meer dan eens slaagt hij erin aspecten van het wezen daarvan in zijn klassiek aandoende beelden vast te leggen. John Davies (Engeland) is een meester in landschappelijk aandoende overzichtsbeelden met een rijkdom aan details en een beeld opbouw die functionele verbanden tussen verschillende (architectonische) beeldelementen duidelijk maakt. De Belg Gilbert Fastenaekens werkt uitsluitend ‘s nachts, wat de stad in zijn interpretatie tot een onwerkelijk architectonisch decor maakt.De Nederlandse fotograaf Jannes Linders richt zijn blik voornamelijk op situaties in de stedelijke omgeving waarin formele en informele structuren naast en door elkaar staan.

Rotterdam in the Picture. 175 Years of Photography in Rotterdam

Cas Oorthuys, Op de veerboot heen en veer, 1950. Collectie Nederlands Fotomuseum. Image © Cas Oorthuys / Nederlands Fotomuseum. Used here by kind permission. All rights reserved.

Tough, brutal, dynamic, modern: Rotterdam knows no fear! For no fewer than 175 years, the way in which the city has been recurrently renovated, revamped and altered, in a persistent process of construction, demolition, reconstruction and expansion, has been carefully and lovingly depicted. High-rise, space, water and wind have consistently determined the atmosphere in this multicultural, international city that longs to become a metropolis. In the past 175 years, the process of change has led to many exceptional photographic assignments, photos and photo series.

Since the invention of the medium of photography, there has never been an exhibition on Rotterdam that has given such a broad representation of the city and of the photography used to produce this representation. Rotterdam in the Picture displays a tough city, a multicultural, constructive and dynamic city, a city that is always under development. The built environment receives great attention, as does the harbour, the striking architecture and the people that make the city what it is.

Either independently or on assignment, photographers from Rotterdam, the Netherlands and abroad have been partly responsible for forming the image of the city. Photographers have developed a vision of the city and given it a countenance. This has helped determine how the city is regarded by external observers, which, in turn, has had an effect upon the way in which Rotterdammers themselves view their city. The image of the city and the city as an image converge here in renowned photographic highlights and unknown material.

Alphons Hustinx, Meent Rotterdam, 1940. Collectie Beeldbank WO2. Image © Alphons Hustinx / Beeldbank WO2. Used here by kind permission. All rights reserved.

Rotterdam in the Picture: 175 Years of Photography in Rotterdam is based on a study that the Nederlands Fotomuseum commissioned Joop de Jong to perform. This exhibition presents many photos from the Museum’s own collection, supplemented by loans from the Rotterdam City Archives, the Royal Archives, the Railway Museum, the Maria Austria Institute, Rotterdam Museum, and the Extraordinary Collections of the University of Leiden.

Photographers in the exhibition
Freek van Arkel, J.Baer, Andor von Barsy, Gabriele Basilico, Henri Berssenbrugge, Alphonse van Besten, Eva Besnyö, W. Bleuzé, Boudewijn Bollmann, Marrie Bot, Kim Bouvy, Gaston Braun, George Breitner, Ger Burg, Wouter Cool, John Davies, Cornelis Deltenre, François van Dijk, Adrienne van Eekelen, Bernard F. Eilers, Wally Elenbaas, Franz von Erckens, J.L. Faassen, Gilbert Fastenaekens, Francis Frith, W. Ganter, Alexis & Frères Gaudin, J. Van Gorkum, Johann Hameter, Robert de Hartogh, Carel van Hees, Jacob van der Hoeven, Alphons Hustinx, Andries Jager, Marijn de Jong, Rince de Jong, Henk Jonker, Jan Kamman, Bart Kemps, the Klumpes brothers, Jan Koelinga, Helena van der Kraan, Karel Kramer, Suzanne Kriemann, Germaine Krull, J. Kuipers, Gustave Larauza, C.A.G. Leyenaar, Jannes Linders, Jan van Maanen, Paul Martens, Peter Martens, Pieter van der Meer, Vincent Mentzel, Carl-Emil Mögle, Kees Molkenboer, Munnich & Ermerins, Cornelis Nieuwland, Evert van Ojen, Cas Oorthuys, Pieter Oosterhuis, Julius Perger, Hayo Piebenga, Gebr. Pieterman, Frans von Pöppinghausen, Bas Princen, E. Radermacher, Joop Reyngoud, J. van Rhijn, P.W. Roemer, Jan Roovers, Frits J. Rotgans, Gerco de Ruijter, Daria Scagliola, Jan Schaper, J. Schotel, Janine Schrijver, Paul Schuitema, Harry Sengers, John Sherrington, Ruud Sies, Otto Snoek, Sara Lydia Stahl-Van Hoboken, Richard Strauss, H.J. Tollens, Robert F. Turing, Ellie Uyttenbroek, Daniël van de Ven, Ari Versluis, C. Vreedenburgh, Jan Vrijhof, Hans Werlemann, Gerard Wessel, Ed van Wijk, Hans Wilschut, L. van de Winkel, Peter Wotke, Steef Zoetmulder.