Machinehal in de suikerfabriek 1890 - 1910

Otto Hisgen’s photograph of a sugar factory machine hall shows the immense steel machinery of early twentieth century industry. These machines weren’t made by hand, but through complex processes involving design, engineering, and factory fabrication. The materials and manufacturing processes are crucial here. The factory is full of pipes, tanks and massive engines. The smooth metallic surfaces reflect the light, contrasting with the rough texture of the building's structure. These surfaces speak to the intense labor required to extract, refine, and assemble these materials. The image’s visual weight comes not just from the dark tones of the metal, but also from the implied weight of the industrial labor. The factory, a landscape of production, highlights the contrast between human scale and machine power. This challenges the divide between art and industry, reminding us that all objects, even photographs, are products of complex social and economic systems.