Overlaat in de kali Konto bij suikerfabriek Goedo in Djombang op Java c. 1925 - 1930

This photograph, by Isken, captures a spillway in the Kali Konto River near the Goedo sugar factory in Djombang, Java. The sepia tones give a sense of timelessness, turning something functional into a meditation on form. I love how the structure snakes across the landscape, creating a dialogue between the natural and the constructed. My eye is drawn to the steps leading down to the river. They seem to invite interaction, a sense of entering into the scene. It reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who documented industrial structures with a similar objective eye, elevating the mundane to the monumental. The photograph’s power lies in its simplicity and the way it captures a specific moment in time, while also suggesting something universal about human intervention in the landscape. It's a quiet piece, but one that resonates with a subtle beauty and a sense of historical curiosity.