Schip in een dok van de Tanjong Pagar Dock Co. Ltd. in Singapore, gezien vanaf de klokkentoren before 1905

This photograph, taken by G.R. Lambert & Co., captures a ship in a dry dock at the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company in Singapore. It offers a compelling glimpse into the industrial processes of the late 19th century. The image’s material qualities – its sepia tones and the sharp detail afforded by early photographic techniques – are crucial to its impact. The photograph is made from a process involving light-sensitive chemicals on paper, freezing a moment in time. Look closely and you can see the physical infrastructure required to maintain large ships, and the workers involved in this enterprise. The image speaks volumes about labor and the social context of maritime trade. The dry dock itself, a feat of engineering and manual labor, is a testament to human ingenuity and effort. The photograph's focus on industry and infrastructure challenges traditional artistic categories, inviting us to consider the cultural significance of labor and production. This image broadens our understanding of art to include the aesthetics of the everyday and the world of work.