Interieur van de Sint-Nicolaaskapel in Nijmegen before 1915

This black and white image presents the interior of the Sint-Nicolaaskapel in Nijmegen, made by an anonymous artist. I can imagine the artist standing in front of this architectural space, feeling the weight of history, the play of light and shadow on the ancient stones. What might they have been thinking as they framed this view? I see the arches as strong, deliberate strokes, each one shaping the space and guiding my eye deeper into the chapel. The textures, the rough surfaces of the stone, communicate a sense of age, but also of resilience. The paint is not thick, it's more like a stain, emphasizing the bones of the structure. The work reminds me of Piranesi's etchings of Roman ruins, or maybe some of the early modernist photographers who were fascinated by industry and decay. Artists are constantly in conversation with each other across time, aren't they? Trying to capture something of the world, or perhaps something of themselves. Painting embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, and that's where the real meaning lies.