Energiecentrale Big Creek, Fresno, California, Verenigde Staten 1936

Wouter Cool's photograph presents the Big Creek power plant in California, revealing a fascinating interplay of industrial modernity and natural forms. The repeated vertical cylinders along the facade draw immediate attention. These cylindrical forms, while purely functional here, echo the classical columns of ancient temples. Consider the pillars of Karnak—structures meant to invoke awe and a sense of immense power. Here, the industrial cylinders achieve a similar effect, suggesting humanity's ambition to harness nature's energy. This mirroring of ancient architectural forms serves to elevate the modern endeavor of industrialization, subtly imbuing it with the authority and grandeur of past civilizations. This psychological projection satisfies a deep-seated human need to connect the new with the old, anchoring our innovations in a narrative of progress and power that stretches back through time. Such symbols resurface and evolve, continually reflecting and reshaping our understanding of ourselves in relation to the world around us.