Eerste draaierij 1908

This photograph, “Eerste draaierij,” title translating to “First Turning Shop,” offers us a glimpse into the work floor of a factory. It was made by an anonymous artist, using gelatin silver print. What strikes me is the relentless repetition; rows of machines, pillars, and the hunched figures of workers. Look at how the light filters in, creating a stark contrast between the grimy interior and the outside world. The photograph feels raw, capturing the industrial processes with a kind of brutal honesty, and the many criss-crossing beams almost appear like the slashes of an abstract expressionist! This piece reminds me of some of the factory photography of the early 20th century. It's like stepping into a time capsule, but, like with all art, what's absent or unsaid speaks just as loudly. The anonymous nature of the artist adds another layer, making it less about individual expression and more about a collective experience. Art isn’t just about what we see, but how we see it, and this photograph gives us so much to think about.