S.O. Goenoengsari. Koeltroggen. Juli 1927. 1927

This photograph of the Goenoengsari factory was taken in July 1927 by an unknown artist. You know, when I look at this image, I think about the process of making and doing. The composition, with these huge, cylindrical forms, feels very structured, but there's something quite organic about the way the light falls across the surfaces. The monochrome palette really emphasizes the textures and the play of light and shadow. The artist captures the physicality of the place, the cool tones feel almost tangible. The way the image is composed, everything leads your eye down the corridor to the light source. It reminds me a bit of Bernd and Hilla Becher's photographs of industrial structures. There's a similar interest in the aesthetics of industrial architecture, but where the Bechers are more rigorous, this image is more personal, more intuitive. Ultimately, it's a moment in time, captured with a kind of quiet reverence.