The Remains of the Fisherman City of Walraversijde at the Coast.

Image selected by Wendy Savage.

This interesting and intriguing photograph is comprised of many different characteristics that upon first view drew me in for further examination. I was initially drawn to this image because of its line, color and texture. It reminds me of objects that wear a patina produced by exposure to the elements or accumulated changes in their surface texture from normal use over time. This photograph has a great deal of variety because there are differing lines, shapes and forms within it. The geometric shapes are intermixed with organic ones that help to emphasize a rhythm that keeps the eye moving throughout the bottom two thirds of the photograph. Had the highway not become apparent as my view made its way to the top of the image, I could have imagined this structure was tarnished metal from its exposure to saltwater and sand. In addition, a different sort of hieroglyphic came to mind and I wondered what type of message, if any, becomes revealed with each turning of the tide. This photo was taken from a perspective high above the structure revealing just how large these remains are. I am very intrigued about historical places where people once thrived within a community such as this one. Were artifacts found and then catalogued giving further information of medieval life by the sea? Distinctly different from these remains are signs of the present day with several motorized vehicles driving along the extended highway. This contrasting view shows how things have clearly changed. How does the structure transform when being viewed from a lower vantage point? This image also brings to mind the idea of mark making. Marks are symbols and signifiers. They are the alphabet of human thought. Although these remains are a mark on the earth made by human occupancy, they also represent the human thought process. This process is further realized by these people’s way of life and what they built around them for sustenance and protection. As broad and bountiful their life may have been, so too is this image, because of its natural beauty and the larger questions it poses.

You can view the original post here: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/in_the_field/europe2.shtml

Page Source: Underwater Cultural Heritage and Maritime Archaeology in Belgium by Sorna Khakzad.


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