Braatdroger voor de theefabriek Kertamanah Possibly 1936 - 1939

This photograph of a tea factory's drying machine, titled 'Braatdroger voor de theefabriek Kertamanah,’ was taken by an anonymous artist. What strikes me about this piece is its grayscale palette. It’s a world of shadows and highlights, where the texture of the metal and the crisp edges of the machinery take center stage. The photograph has a kind of stark beauty, emphasizing the industrial process and the human scale of the worker in front of the machine. Look at the surfaces. The smoothness of the metal is almost palpable, creating a tactile, material feeling. The deliberate placement of the man gives a sense of scale and human presence within this industrial landscape. It reminds me of the industrial photography of Bernd and Hilla Becher, celebrating the mundane and finding an unexpected beauty in the structures that shape our lives.