Gezicht op een kerk te Castenray 1909

This photograph of a church in Castenray was taken in June 1909 by an anonymous photographer from Monumentenzorg. The photograph is rendered in cool monochrome tones, and there is a particular lack of contrast, which gives it the feel of an overcast day. It’s a beautiful example of the kind of image that allows us to think about the possibilities of photography as a record. It has a wonderfully soft and quiet surface. The building itself is solid and imposing, but the whole scene has a vulnerable, almost ethereal quality. Note the figure standing to the left of the frame, they are almost blended into the bush in the foreground. The detail is unclear in this photograph, but there is something beautifully casual about their presence and placement. This photograph reminds me of the work of Eugène Atget, who was also documenting buildings and streets in France at the turn of the century. Like Atget, this photographer has created an image that is both documentary and deeply poetic.