Romp voor filterpers Possibly 1937

This image shows a riveted machine from a factory in Soerabaia, taken on February 24th, 1937, by an anonymous artist. It's fascinating how the artist documented this piece of machinery. The way the light catches on the metal creates so many complex tonal variations. The metal has such a strong physical presence. It feels substantial, weighty, and durable, almost like it has its own story etched into its surface. Look at how each rivet, each plate, and each pipe contributes to the overall form. The artist has made such a beautiful composition of this heavy industrial machine. You know, it reminds me a little of Bernd and Hilla Becher's photographic series of industrial structures. Both capture the stark beauty of utilitarian objects, elevating them to the level of art. It’s funny, isn’t it, how something so functional can also be so visually compelling?