Semi kestners in bedrijf 1931 - 1938

Curator: This gelatin-silver print, entitled "Semi kestners in bedrijf", was taken sometime between 1931 and 1938, and we’re lucky to have it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It’s incredibly stark. The geometry of the machinery and the exposed ceiling structure creates a rather overwhelming sense of industrial power, though somehow muted, maybe due to the black and white rendering. Curator: Well, consider the social context during the interwar period. This photography, although by an anonymous photographer, participates in a broader narrative around industrial advancement and its impact on the working class and broader society. There is this pervasive sense of ambivalence, particularly in Europe. Editor: I'm immediately drawn to the arrangement of forms. The cylindrical tanks on the left establish a clear vertical rhythm, countered by the strong horizontal lines of the pipes and the elevated walkways. There's a push and pull between these axes that is quite compelling. Curator: And yet, it isn’t only about visual aesthetic, but a perspective deeply intertwined with class and labour. Who had access to the means of production? Whose labour powered those machines? What did progress look like for those operating them? Editor: Undeniably, these questions are provoked by this photo. But look closely, do you not notice how the photographer’s careful positioning emphasizes a sense of depth and scale. Notice the solitary worker standing atop the metal stairs—the way his figure punctuates the entire composition. It is incredibly visually compelling. Curator: That very solitude and the industrial surrounding reflect, to me, an era rife with anxiety about human displacement in the face of technological acceleration. We need to analyze not just the 'how' of its creation but the 'why' within that specific socio-political climate. The machine looms while humanity becomes small and solitary. Editor: Perhaps it is this interaction, the relationship between those two axes which encapsulates the tension that you mention. Well, I leave it to our audience to explore these readings with fresh eyes. Curator: Indeed, whether through formal elements or sociohistorical probing, the photograph prompts invaluable reflection on modernity.