Oliefabriek Padang Halaban, 1938 1938

Here we have nine black and white photographs of Oliefabriek Padang Halaban pasted into an album in 1938 by Mr. Schurmans, whoever they were. The way that the images are organized on the page is almost like a comic strip. The repetition of imagery feels almost Warholian – I'm especially drawn to the recurring parallel lines of train tracks. They create a compositional rhythm, a visual echo that emphasizes the industrial landscape. There’s a real contrast between the natural forms of the palm trees and the hard lines of the factories and railways. Each photo is like a little window, offering a slightly different perspective on this landscape of industry and nature. I love this conversation – the push and pull of these contrasting elements. Think of Bernd and Hilla Becher, and their photographic typologies of industrial structures – but here, it's personal, tied to someone's lived experience. It’s not just a document; it’s a meditation on seeing.