TH in the 1950s seen by Paul Huf
Description
In 1955, the Technische Hogeschool commemorated its 50th anniversary with a commemorative book. Notable part of this commemorative book is a photo reportage by the then young Paul Huf.
The lecture invites you on a journey through time: Delft in the 1950s. In that period, how did institution and students take on the task of rebuilding and industrialising the Netherlands? In a series of unconventional photographs, Huf depicted the atmosphere and ambition at the TH: people curiously busy with impressive equipment and diligently engaged in meetings.
The TH 1955 commemorative book falls within the genre of industrial commemorative books that caused a furore in the 1950s. Young writers and artists were invited to use an atmospheric book to publicise the social contribution of companies. For writers like Max Dendermonde and photographers like Cas Oorthuys, it was a nice living.
Huf's hundred-plus photos are so authentic that they are worth looking at (again). What did the photographer want to convey anno 1955 as the essence of Delft to an audience that, given the lack of TV, and recruitment campaigns, still had little insight into what went on inside the walls of the TH. For the contemporary viewer - overloaded with visual material - it is exciting to draw comparisons between now and half a century ago. How different the proportions, how different the work without a computer but also ... what constants have remained?
There may be some among those present who can still view the images with the eyes of the Delft youth they once were. Yet looking back nostalgically is not the only purpose of the meeting. We will also talk about images as a source of historiography.
10.30:00 Reception with coffee
11:00 Lecture by Ms Frida de Jong, lecturer in Technological History at TU Delft
11:45 Pause
12:15 Continuation of the lecture with a concluding discussion
12:45 End of the meeting
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
From motorway A13 Rotterdam or The Hague, exit Delft Zuid/TU Delft. Keep following TU Delft. At the end of the exit TU Delft turn right onto Schoemakerstraat. Then take the first turn left and immediately left again across the bridge. You are now in the car park of the burnt down Faculty of Architecture (Van den Broekweg). The Cultural Centre is at the end of this road, across Mekelweg. Due to work on the newly constructed ' Mekelpark', the Mekelweg is closed. Public transport via NS Delft-Zuid (see also the link below).
Location
Cultuurcentrum, Theatre Hall 232
Mekelweg 10, 2628 CD DELFT
Organiser
History of Technology
Histechnica
Name and contact details for information
Further information from L.A. Hissink at the e-mail address below.