Altaar van de Dom van Keulen c. 1860 - 1870

This photographic image, "Altar of the Cologne Cathedral," was captured by Anselm Schmitz in the 19th century. The sepia tones create a textured visual field with intricate architectural details. The composition is structured around a central altar, showcasing a symmetrical arrangement of religious artifacts and sculptures. Schmitz's work destabilizes the traditional separation between documentation and art, inviting a dialogue about photography's role in preserving and interpreting cultural heritage. The altar’s structure and the artifacts upon it are presented in a visually rich, layered fashion, with the interplay of light and shadow giving form to the photograph. The sepia palette, while historically contingent, transcends mere representation, highlighting the geometry, shape, and the architectural components in the Cologne Cathedral. The visual presentation invites a deeper contemplation on the concepts of architectural preservation and representation through photography.