De kamer voor kleinere operaties in de polikliniek van het Hospitaal Batak Instituut te Kaban Djahe 1928

This photograph, taken by the Hospitaal Batak Instituut in 1928, captures the inside of a minor operating room. The composition is quite simple, a direct shot, but it speaks volumes about the intersection of care, architecture, and documentation. The monochrome palette invites us to consider the textures and surfaces within the room. The surfaces of the cabinets feel utilitarian. The operating table looks freshly scrubbed and ready for use. The photograph is sharp but the greyscale flattens the image making the viewer aware of the materials in the room. These choices add to a conceptual idea of the room. The composition reminds me a bit of Bernd and Hilla Becher, whose photographs of industrial structures embrace a similar deadpan aesthetic, elevating functional objects to a kind of austere beauty. Like their work, this image offers a unique perspective on the built environment and its relationship to human activity, leaving space for the viewer to contemplate the meaning behind its objective portrayal.