Fermenteermachine Possibly 1934 - 1939

Here’s a photograph of a ‘Fermenteermachine,’ or fermentation machine, printed as a monochromatic image and held at the Rijksmuseum, made by an anonymous artist at an unknown date. I love that we don't know who made this, and why. Was it an amateur enthusiast, or a documentarian? What strikes me is its textural quality, the way the light catches on the rivets and seams of this strange machine. The surfaces of the metal are worn and reflective, almost mirroring the space around it. There's a playful ambiguity in its form, too. Is it sculpture, or architecture? It seems to occupy a space between these definitions, embodying something monumental but also strangely delicate. It reminds me a bit of Bernd and Hilla Becher's industrial photographs, which also celebrated the beauty of functional objects. But unlike the Bechers, this image has an added layer of mystery. It leaves space for interpretation, inviting us to consider the relationship between technology, art, and the human experience.