Drie bakken 1931 - 1937

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph, "Drie bakken", or "Three Boxes," taken sometime between 1931 and 1937. The contrast between the dark boxes and hazy background creates an unsettling mood for me. How would you interpret this work? Curator: It’s interesting that you find it unsettling. What draws my attention are these rather humble boxes becoming symbols of something much larger. Placed in a seemingly industrial space, the boxes, graduated in size, become a visual metaphor. Editor: A metaphor for what? Scale? Importance? Curator: Perhaps. Look at how the photographer uses them almost as building blocks, geometric forms presented in a landscape that seems to be in transition. They are quite unassuming objects, yet their ordered arrangement suggests a planned, intentional act. Think about the historical context too, of the period. What do simple forms arranged in sequence evoke for you? Editor: Order and maybe even… progress? Are you thinking of the rise of industrialisation? Perhaps they signify some kind of mass production, simple shapes produced one after the other. Curator: Exactly. The symbolism is complex, playing with ideas of growth, industrial efficiency, and perhaps, the potential dehumanization inherent in such systems. There's a potent visual echo there, considering this image was made during such a pivotal time. What are the empty boxes waiting to be filled with? And at what cost? Editor: I never thought of it that way, seeing them as symbols within a bigger historical narrative, the background now appearing less of a background, and more like a scene ready to swallow those boxes. Thanks! Curator: Precisely! Art unveils the layered symbols within, transforming a simple photograph into a mirror reflecting humanity’s complex journey.