Sf. Redjosarie Massecuitepomp 1923 - 1924

This photograph of the Sf. Redjosarie Massecuitepomp is part of a series of anonymous industrial images at the Rijksmuseum. There's something so immediate about it; not trying to be clever, just an image of a sugar pump in a factory. It's humble, but also beautiful. What strikes me are the layers of information in the greyscale tones, and the texture: look how the light captures the rough surfaces of the brickwork and the metal. The artist has made a virtue of the gritty subject matter, capturing the beauty in the mundane. Then there’s the framing, this photograph is one of two, fixed within a kind of album page. I'm reminded of Bernd and Hilla Becher, the way they documented industrial structures with such careful attention. This unknown artist shares that spirit, elevating the everyday into something monumental. It's a reminder that art is everywhere, if you just know how to look.