Toproller 1931 - 1937

This photograph of a ‘Toproller’ was taken by an anonymous artist, and it's a reminder that factories are like, the cathedrals of industry, right? There's something impressive about the scale and the repetition, these machines lined up like they're in some kind of futuristic church. I think about the texture of metal, that cool, smooth surface that also feels like it could cut you. The light and shadow create a kind of drama, highlighting the cylindrical forms and the intricate mechanics. Notice the way the light catches on the rounded surfaces of the machines, almost like a portrait, the artist is interested in the machine, and in industry. This image brings to mind some of the industrial scenes that Charles Sheeler was painting around the same time, with a similar reverence for the beauty and complexity of modern machinery. What do you think?