Locomotieven op spoorwegemplacement van Eindhoven (2) Possibly 1930 - 1934

This page of black and white photographs of trains was made in Eindhoven, presumably with a simple camera, one Sunday in April. The images feel like studies, like a typological survey, and this gives them a conceptual edge. The tones range from solid black to pale gray, with lots of mid-tones. Look closely at the largest image in the center: steam billows from the engine, creating a halo, a contrast to the dark, mechanical forms of the train itself. The wheels and pistons have an almost human presence, a sense of powerful, repetitive movement. The anonymous nature of the photographer reminds me of other process-based artists such as Bernd and Hilla Becher. While these images document specific locomotives, they also speak to the human desire to categorize and understand the world around us. Art's like that too, always looking, always asking.