Lost Cities

In the autumn rain
the city drowns
and no one notices

On a gray, rainy day the colors fade away, making contrasts suddenly seem stronger. Many cities are drowning. If it's not in the amount of rain that can't be drained fast enough, it's in the hustle and bustle, the noise, the stench and pollution, the loneliness of many residents, causing many cities to lose their charm.

The contrast with the silence, simplicity and purity of nature is enormous and only gets bigger as a city grows. The inhabitant of the city lives, literally and figuratively, further and further away from the rural environment and from his fellow citizens.

Yet there is much beauty to be seen in the built environment, where man seems to have become a subordinate element in his own creations.

Growing A Liveable City

Cities drowning in concrete and smog
people drowning in loneliness,
trapped between steel and glass,
can't even see a green horizon anymore.

What if I could paint the city
in cheerful colours, plant trees
as tall as skyscrapers, have concrete
foundations intertwined with roots,
have leaves be a canopy against the bright sun
and give shelter to millions of birds.

Then I would have grown a
liveable city, where people like to be
outdoors, meet each other, have time
for each other and for themselves,
would reconnect to nature. 

Imagine you could grow a pile of concrete and steel into a liveable city, what would it look like ?

Digital art

The Evening Light Is Painting Fragments Of The Past

Fishermen's sheds in Stenbjerg Landingsplads.
Stenbjerg is a fishing village on the former island of Thy in the northwest of Jutland, Denmark. It is noted for its small white fishermen’s huts next to the sandy beach.

STENBJERG, NORTH JUTLAND, DENMARK

Escaping The Shadows

A cyclist drives from under a bridge into the light. From shadow to light, an escape from the dark.

NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Entrained In The Undertow

Wander Through Streets Of Light

It's early in the morning, I'm walking through the streets of an old city. Although the streets are deserted, everything is breathing the bustling activity that has taken place for centuries and often still takes place. Sparkling of life, sparkling of light on a sunny day.

NONNENSTRAAT, NIJNEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

The Morning Light Draws A Shadow Of The Past

It's early in the morning, I'm walking through the streets of an old city. The morning light accentuates the lines and details of the old facades.

BEGIJNENSTRAAT, NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Awakening (3)

Early in the morning, the beautiful medieval village of Corenno Plinio on Lake Como awakens. Narrow streets, old worn stairs. The streets are deserted, except for a single elderly resident climbing slowly up the steep steps early on. Many buildings with original details and no bars, restaurants or other tourist attractions. A gem!

Digital Art

Summer In Varenna (2)

The sun is slowly descending from the roofs,
the narrow streets await the first sunbeams
after a cool dark night

Halfway the morning in the old city center of the beautiful town of Varenna. The chilly streets wait for the sunlight to warm them with a shower of light...

Digital Art

Birds Cry

Thick clouds of brown
smoke darkens the sun
Eyes tear,
birds cry
The sun colors the evening
in the hues of the poison that
factories vomit
How high may become
the price the future
will have to pay?

I feel it is my mission to make people aware of the beauty and at the same time fragility of nature. At the same time, this sometimes feels like hypocrisy because I am part of the society that causes the destruction of the earth's habitability. Even though I do my best to live simply and keep my ecological footprint considerably smaller than "the use" of 1 earth.
At times when I feel that, I also feel an urge to create a work with a more poignant message....

Digital Art

IJsselkade Zutphen

Commissioned work

IJSSELKADE, ZUTPHEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Some Thing's Out Of Whack (1)

Awaiting

A mare and her foal follow me suspiciously with their eyes as I slowly get closer. The foal presses herself firmly against her mother’s side, awaiting what is to come. A great moment for a portrait…
These are Fjord Horses, a Norwegian race.

FIELDS NEAR THE CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Pressure

An abstract diptych of a rushing train, giving the impression that you can feel the pressure.

NEAR THE CITY OF UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS

The City Drowns

In the autumn rain
the city drowns
and no one notices

On a gray, rainy day the colors fade away, making contrasts suddenly seem stronger. This city and many others are drowning. If it's not in the amount of rain that can't be drained fast enough, it's in the hustle and bustle, the noise, the stench and pollution, the loneliness of many residents, causing many cities to lose their charm.

The contrast with the silence, simplicity and purity of nature is enormous and only gets bigger as a city grows. The inhabitant of the city lives, literally and figuratively, further and further away from the rural environment and from his fellow citizens.

CITY CENTER OF THE CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Shadows Of The Past

"Can you make something for the theme Shadows of the Past", someone asked me recently.
But of course! And as a major exception: a photo montage.
No complicated manipulation, simply one photo translucently superimposed over another.

CITY OF NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Vows To The Light

Rippling Moonlight

In the open window the wind ripples the
      curtains
the rising moon brushes the wall
Just for a brief moment,
tree leaves float through my room

Light makes magic. Whether it is sunlight, the light of a candle or the light of the moon. Light causes shadows, shadows tell stories....

Digital art

Summer In Varenna

The sun is slowly descending from the
     roofs,
the narrow streets await the first sunbeams
after a cool dark night

Halfway the morning in the old city center of the beautiful town of Varenna. A man stands still in a dark, chilly street. It is as if he waits for the sunlight to warm him with a shower...

CITY OF VARENNA, LAKE COMO, ITALY

Want to see more?

How to purchase

Do you like one of my photos and do you consider buying it, but want to see how it looks in your interior beforehand?
Follow the steps on the page Preview before purchase and I’ll send you a photomontage of the desired photo in your office, living room, bedroom or any other room ! 

Questions or orders you can send to me by email to jacobberghoef@gmail.com

Oversæt til Dansk

Vertaal naar Nederlands

Übersetzen auf Deutsch

Privacy Statement

Cookie Statement

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Want to inquire about an art piece? 

All content © 2014-2020  Jacob Berghoef