Untitled (large office) c. 1950

This black and white photograph, by Robert Burian, captures a "large office." It’s made with traditional photographic materials – film, chemicals, and paper. But the real subject here is the modern office itself, as a machine for labor. The material language of the space speaks volumes: repetitive desks, each equipped with the tools of bureaucracy. The uniform surfaces and functional design suggest efficiency, but also a certain dehumanization. Look at how the desks are arranged – a regimented grid that implies control and surveillance. The floor is similarly marked out in a bold geometric pattern. Burian's photograph is a study in how design can shape behavior and reinforce social structures. It invites us to consider the labor, politics, and even the consumption that go into creating and maintaining such a space. Ultimately, this image is a potent reminder that the built environment is never neutral; it’s always charged with meaning and intent.