Watertoren bij suikerfabriek Ngandjoek op Java c. 1925 - 1930

This photograph, "Watertoren bij suikerfabriek Ngandjoek op Java" by Isken, captures a water tower nestled within a sugar factory in Java, and it’s the tones that grab me. The subtle gradations of sepia invite you to look closer. The image has an interesting texture, a certain graininess, likely inherent to the photographic process of the time. This texture almost softens the industrial feel of the water tower, blending it with the surrounding foliage. The tower, a skeletal structure, reaches towards the sky, its form almost like a drawing in space. I am drawn to the geometry of the crossbeams, how they create a complex network, each intersection a small moment of visual interest. The way the light filters through the structure, casting shadows on the ground, adds depth and dimension to the scene. It reminds me a little of Bernd and Hilla Becher's typologies of industrial structures, yet with a warmth and intimacy all of its own. Like their works, this photograph embraces ambiguity and the idea that multiple interpretations are possible.