S.O. Goenoengsari. Zuydzyde fabriek by centrifuges. Maart 1927. 1927

This photograph, taken in March 1927 by an anonymous artist, shows the Zuydzyde factory by centrifuges in S.O. Goenoengsari. It’s a straightforward, black-and-white image, but it offers such a raw, unpolished view of industry and labor. What strikes me is the way the photographer captured the play of light and shadow within the factory space. The composition is mostly dark, almost like a charcoal drawing, but then there's this burst of light in the middle, highlighting a group of figures working. It's not so much about documenting as it is about conveying a feeling – an atmosphere of hard work. The photograph's texture adds another layer. You can almost feel the roughness of the factory floor and the grit in the air. Thinking about how Walker Evans captured the Depression era, and how that era embraced ambiguity... yeah this is just that. I could look at this all day.