Trommel 1931 - 1937

This black and white photograph shows a trommel, a machine designed to separate materials, a testament to human ingenuity. Looking at it, I think of the artist as an anonymous inventor, tinkering away, problem-solving and making something new and useful. The machine is set against an industrial backdrop and seems to take up the whole image. The metal looks smooth and cold to touch. The light and shadow add depth, as the tones grade from dark to light. You can almost feel the weight of the metal and the turning of the drum, sifting and sorting. It's an interesting object to photograph, and the image speaks to a larger story of innovation and industry. It reminds me of some of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographs of industrial buildings – there’s a similar deadpan quality to the image. It’s a quiet, understated image, but one that captures the beauty and complexity of the everyday.