Ampaspers 1917 - 1938

This black and white photograph, "Ampaspers," was made by an anonymous artist; no date is given. It's all about the push and pull of forms, the way light and shadow create a kind of choreography across the image. What strikes me most is the texture. The graininess of the print gives everything a tactile quality, like you could reach out and feel the cool, rough surface of the metal. Look closely at the large wheels – each with its own set of holes, like eyes staring back at us – they dominate the foreground, their weight emphasized by the dark shadows underneath. The artist has a great way of capturing depth, layering shapes to create a sense of space. It reminds me of the early industrial photography of the Bechers, Bernd and Hilla, where the subject is less about representation and more about the abstract shapes and forms that emerge. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between seeing and feeling.