Box Stove c. 1942

Here we see Charles Von Urban’s photograph of a Box Stove. Von Urban frames the object centrally, allowing us to appreciate its texture and materiality. Look at the surface: it's rough, almost geological. Each shape, each plane, has been carefully considered in relation to the whole, a testament to the process of its creation. The stove's various decorative features are sharply defined against the uniform grey of its surface. The metallic intricacies of the front panel stand in contrast to the smoother planes of the top and side. This reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who also photographed industrial structures. But where the Bechers sought to create objective documentation, Von Urban’s approach is more subjective, emphasizing the aesthetic qualities of the stove. This challenges our understanding of art and functionality and invites us to consider the beauty inherent in utilitarian objects.