KLM-toestel, vermoedelijk in Nederlands-Indië c. 1946

Editor: Here we have a gelatin silver print from around 1946, titled "KLM-toestel, vermoedelijk in Nederlands-Indië", so, a KLM airplane probably in the Dutch East Indies. It has an almost dreamlike quality in its monochrome palette. What do you see when you look at this photograph? Curator: Immediately, the scale of the industrial object is interesting: how these airplanes were assembled and what material inputs went into their construction, and also how dependent its operation would have been on cheap resources extracted elsewhere. Then, who comprised that crowd and their relationship to Dutch colonial infrastructure intrigues me. Editor: So you are thinking about the resources required and the human element? Curator: Precisely! And that shot was taken during a key transition after World War II. Focus on the materials: metal, glass, rubber. Where did they originate? Consider the social relations embedded within this image. This airplane embodies an empire’s ambition but the photograph shows more than just the technology. It encapsulates colonialism and power structures too. How do you think it connects to the "still-life-photography" tag associated with the image? Editor: I guess, now that I consider your arguments, one can imagine it still... yet about to mobilize, maybe carrying raw material one way, manufactured items the other way? I appreciate you bringing that into view. The image, indeed, speaks about empire, industry and labor and the crowd witnessing that. Thank you. Curator: Glad I could shed light, let’s go find something else.