Ondergrondse Benzine-tanks Possibly 1938 - 1939

This photograph, “Ondergrondse Benzine-tanks,” captures massive underground petrol tanks, their surfaces cool greys and browns, housed in what appears to be a vast industrial hangar, photographed by an anonymous artist. I wonder about the thought process of the artist who made this? It's almost like a Bernd and Hilla Becher typology, except, in this case, the artist has captured a scene with workers rather than stark, isolated structures. The sheer scale of the tanks is striking, and the way they're arranged—symmetrical, side by side—feels very deliberate, almost like a staged performance. It’s not just a record; there’s a compositional intention that elevates it. I imagine the photographer carefully considered the play of light and shadow within the hangar, the geometry of the tanks against the industrial backdrop. The contrast between the massive tanks and the human figure is so striking, it almost turns the scene into something monumental and awe-inspiring. And it speaks to the anonymous workers who built the scene, the lifeblood of the industrial age.