Houtbewerking op de Prinses Juliana School 1933

This photograph captures a class in woodworking at the Princess Juliana School. The students and their instructor are working with wood, undoubtedly a material that comes directly from nature, but in this case is being processed through mechanized labor. Note the large machine dominating the scene. Its dark mass contrasts with the lighter tones of the wood itself, and the crisp white uniform of the teacher. This contrast is indicative of the social context in which the image was taken. On one hand, the natural material and the act of making evoke a sense of craft and skill. Yet on the other, we are reminded of the rise of industry, and the changing landscape of labor in the early 20th century. The photograph also raises questions about the role of education in preparing young people for a world increasingly shaped by technology and the division of labor. This image invites us to consider the relationship between materials, making, and the social forces that shape our world.