Ketel en kuip in een werkplaats 1880 - 1920

This photograph by Franz Woditzka shows a still—a Ketel en kuip—in a workshop. Observe how the still’s circular forms echo throughout the composition, from the kettle to the barrel, linked by the serpentine curve of the connecting pipe. This circularity has ancient roots, a motif of cyclical transformation found in alchemy and mythology across cultures. Think of the Ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, symbolizing the eternal return. Here, this symbol takes on a practical form. The still transforms raw materials, perhaps grains or fruits, into something new and potent. Yet, this act of transformation also evokes a deeper, perhaps subconscious, desire for renewal and purification. The alchemical still, like the mythical cauldron, taps into our collective memory, resonating with ancient rituals and the eternal human quest for transcendence and change. The viewer is drawn into this cycle, contemplating the past and the future, caught in the transformative process.