Bankwerkerij 1929 - 1932

This photograph titled ‘Bankwerkerij’ was made by Atelier Umbgrove, though we don’t know exactly when. It’s a snapshot of labour, the black and white tones imbuing a sense of documentary, a certain kind of truth. But like all images, it's a performance too. The monochrome palette allows the textures and tonal gradations to really sing. There are so many layers of detail, from the heavy machinery to the figures dotted around the factory floor. The eye is drawn to the contrast between the dark, solid forms of the machines and the lighter, more ephemeral presence of the workers. It’s like a dance between man and machine, a choreography of industry. The composition reminds me of some of the German photographers of the early twentieth century, August Sander maybe, capturing the spirit of the age through its people and their workplaces. But there’s a stillness to this image, a sense of quiet observation that feels very contemporary, almost cinematic. Like a scene from a film waiting to unfold.