Gezicht op de Brantasbrug bij suikerfabriek Meritjan te Kediri op Java c. 1925 - 1930

This photograph captures the Brantas Bridge near the Meritjan sugar factory in Kediri, Java, presenting a scene of industrial life intertwined with nature. The bridge, a symbol of connection and transition, spans the waters, recalling ancient motifs of crossing— think of the Roman pons, both a literal bridge and a symbol of the pontiff, the bridge-builder between humanity and the divine. Here, it bridges not just the river, but also the divide between the natural landscape and the industrial complex, a factory, marked by its smokestack. Water flows as a constant, like time itself, evoking ancient symbols of purification, of life's ebb and flow. The factory chimney juxtaposes against the distant mountain, a contrast between modernity's aspiration and nature's grandeur. These visual elements stir in us a deep-seated tension, a dialectic between progress and preservation. This recalls a collective memory, a subconscious awareness of the transient nature of human endeavors against the enduring backdrop of the natural world. It’s a powerful emotional image, subtly urging us to ponder our place within this ever-evolving landscape.