Directieleden poseren in de fabriek bij een uitstalling van machines 1931 - 1937

Curator: This black and white photograph, dating from 1931 to 1937, captures "Directieleden poseren in de fabriek bij een uitstalling van machines," meaning directors posing in a factory exhibition of machines. It's from an anonymous artist. The print now resides in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: The composition is really quite fascinating. The subjects are grouped together but the lines created by the industrial machinery contrast with the uniformity of the line of men. A staged candid. Curator: Yes, this is clearly staged to promote not only the factory's advanced engineering, but also project authority. The clothing reinforces social expectations of respectability and achievement; the matching suits convey both unity and upward mobility. Editor: You see unity, I see more a sense of hierarchy despite the uniformity. The tallest individual is positioned centrally and ever-so-slightly in front of the others. Formally speaking, there are visual queues that reinforce authority. Curator: I see the power structures. More than that, I think it underscores the ambition of the era – this vision of a collective propelling forward an industrial revolution. Notice the banner in the back—can you make out the inscription? Editor: With some effort, I see, it reads, "Ex Undis Sol." 'From the Waves, the Sun', the shell corporation tagline, quite appropriate for an industrial exhibition. The composition really leans heavily into linear perspective, drawing our eye into the machinery on display. It creates depth in an otherwise shallow picture plane. Curator: It also connects us to the world stage. That slogan connects industry with a bigger narrative of expansion and empire. They wanted to showcase national pride and economic strength during challenging economic times, while also speaking to universal ambition. Editor: Well, through line, light and tone, there is no mistaking the feeling that there's a lot riding on these serious men. It's all very balanced formally speaking. Curator: Agreed. Photography from this time reflects a new age where industry, capital, and national aspirations merge and blend together. Each man embodies a facet of modernization’s symbolic ascent. Editor: It shows how a seemingly straightforward snapshot contains multiple layers of meaning within its geometric framework. Very interesting indeed.