Snelstroomvoorwarmer / Drie verdeelkasten voor voorwarmers tegelijkertijd in bewerking 1916 - 1924

This photographic print currently held at the Rijksmuseum captures an anonymous industrial scene in tones of grey and black. It's like a memory, faded yet defined, a site where industry and labor converge. I am curious about the photographer. What was it like to stand in the factory with the large machine and long tables? I wonder, did the photographer feel small amidst the industrial landscape or did they feel empowered, capturing a moment of human ingenuity and industry? I imagine the photographer was very interested in how the light fell on metal and how space works when the industrial components are so big. The surfaces in this photograph are cool, and the light reflecting off of those surfaces create an opportunity to play with shadow. It makes me consider the legacy of industrial innovation and how this photographer captured its essence in a single frame. It is one moment in time. And it can inspire new forms of creativity.