Kantoorinterieur met klerken en meubilair van suikerfabriek Meritjan te Kediri op Java c. 1925 - 1930

This photograph by Isken captures the interior of the Meritjan sugar factory's office in Kediri, Java. The sepia tones create a nostalgic, almost dreamlike atmosphere, which I think adds to the feeling that the photo wasn't 'taken' but 'made', somehow, in the darkroom. Look at the way the light from the large windows on the right softly illuminates the scene. It's not about stark contrasts, but more about subtle gradations. There is a visual rhythm created by the repetition of desks and figures, a kind of systematic elegance. The eye is drawn to the men at work, heads bent, focused on papers. You can almost hear the scratching of pens and the rustling of documents. There's a human element in the midst of this industrial setting. It reminds me a bit of some of Bernd and Hilla Becher's photographs, but with a warmth and personality all of its own. It's a piece that resonates with the past, but also invites us to reflect on the nature of work, industry, and the human spirit.