Fabriekskampong. (Aug. 1926.) 1926 - 1928

This photograph, Fabriekskampong, was taken in August 1926, by an anonymous artist. What was the photographer thinking when they released the shutter? Did they feel the stillness in the air? Were they moved by the humble architecture? The composition is so simple and yet it is so compelling. I see the hand of someone who's considered the relationship between the buildings, the sky, and the land. I can imagine them moving slightly to the left or right, considering what to include and what to omit. For me, this photograph speaks to the power of observation, and the way that a simple scene can become profound through the act of seeing and framing. The image reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who photographed industrial structures with such care. Artists are in constant dialogue, building on each other's insights and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.