Installatie met stoommachine 1931 - 1937

These black and white photographs of "Installatie met stoommachine" at Braat Soerabaja, were taken by an anonymous photographer. They are part of a larger collection held at the Rijksmuseum. The images show a steam engine installation in what appears to be a colonial context, potentially Indonesia. Note the presence of a local boy in the photographs, standing beside the imposing machinery. This juxtaposition raises questions about labor, power, and representation in colonial settings. The steam engine, a symbol of industrial progress, contrasts sharply with the boy's presence, suggesting the complex dynamics of colonialism and its impact on local populations. What does it mean to witness progress when that comes at the expense of oneself, one’s family or one’s country? These photos invite us to consider the human cost of technological advancement and the silent stories embedded within the historical record.