Verdamplichamen 1917 - 1938

Curator: Well, isn't this just wonderfully…intimidating? Editor: Indeed. What strikes you as you approach is the scale, its quite captivating. We're looking at a photograph entitled "Verdamplichamen," created sometime between 1917 and 1938, location currently in the Rijksmuseum. Curator: "Verdamplichamen"—Evaporating Bodies. What a title. They do look a bit like, giant, stoic bodies in some weird sort of ceremony. Like, waiting for the steam to come. You feel their pressure, you know? It’s a gorgeous study of these brutalist industrial shapes against the fragile geometry of the skylight. It creates such a great harmony of textures. Editor: Absolutely, the anonymous photographer has an eye for how industry impacts public imagination. The sheer number of such tanks creates visual interest, which transforms the working area into a cathedral for technological advancement. The way that is constructed as though it is trying to reach something divine. The photograph captures this transitional moment as countries modernize. Curator: "Cathedral" is perfect! Except instead of praying, you’re… refining? Whatever magic happened in those tanks, they have an ancient spirit even though they are modern metal beasts. Do you think these huge sculptures actually represent societal advancement, or instead are we just glorifying power here? Editor: It’s complicated, obviously, I do agree with your feelings here. The photographic composition emphasizes both— the scale impresses but also makes the structures seem imposing. We celebrate efficiency and material abundance, and even innovation as advancement, but the stark reality of these machines asks us if that celebration always serves people or power. Curator: Makes you think about what kind of monumentality is in our everyday life now... What's capturing our cultural spirit today that might feel soulless in fifty years. Editor: It does, doesn't it? A worthwhile reflection sparked by a striking image. Curator: Right? Food for thought and beauty to contemplate!