The photograph captures a frontal view of a steel industrial staircase from the early 20th century. The staircase is perpendicular in the centre of the frame, as if inviting the viewer to look upwards, or rather stare at the traces of the past.
The steps, once painted fresh green, now bear the scars of countless feet. The paint has worn away, flaking off here and there, showing us the raw steel underneath. To the left and right, the handrails run upwards in a tight rhythm. Their tubes form three lines that nod elegantly with the slope of the stairs. The two lower , like the steps, are painted green; the upper tube in a contrasting red. There too, the paint shows its age, worn off as if the colour is slowly being pulled out of time.
The frontal perspective emphasises the symmetry and geometry of the construction. there is a play between a strict interplay of lines and the organic decay of the paint, between order and transience. The picture exudes a quiet monumentality, a tribute to industrial simplicity that, even in decay, exudes strength and beauty.
Born and raised in Noordwijk, I can often be found on the beach and in the dunes. Favourite photography subjects are nature, landscapes, travel, cities and architecture... Read more…