Industrie-Ruhrgebiet (Industry, the Ruhr) c. 1920s

Else Thalemann's "Industrie-Ruhrgebiet (Industry, the Ruhr)" is a stark black and white photograph from the 1920s, capturing the industrial landscape of the Ruhr Valley in Germany. The image focuses on two silhouetted figures, likely industrial workers, standing atop a large cylindrical structure. Their forms are starkly contrasted against the cloudy sky, emphasizing the scale of the industrial machinery and the human figures' insignificant presence within it. This photo is an example of New Objectivity, a style of photography that emerged in Germany during the Weimar Republic, characterized by a direct, documentary approach, often focusing on urban life and industrial subjects. The work highlights the human cost of industrialization and the dramatic transformation of the landscape.