Gezicht op de Marekerk te Leiden 1879 - 1900

Editor: This is “Gezicht op de Marekerk te Leiden” – or “View of the Marekerk in Leiden” – a gelatin-silver print by Jan Goedeljee, made sometime between 1879 and 1900. It feels like a classic, romantic cityscape, doesn’t it? So balanced and serene, but also sort of sepia-toned. What catches your eye? Curator: My attention is immediately drawn to the Marekerk itself. It dominates the skyline, of course, but it's more than just size. Notice how Goedeljee positions the church. Does it strike you as a symbol of stability? It certainly rises above the domesticity of the rooftops below. It acts as the eternal amidst the temporal. What sort of dialogue do you see at play between faith and everyday life? Editor: I hadn't thought about the positioning that way. I guess it is sort of reassuring in that "God's eye view" type of feeling? Curator: Precisely. The visual language speaks of something lasting, almost eternal. Look closely at those rooftops. What do you see there in their repeated forms? Editor: Repetition and similar geometries… It gives you the impression of community, I suppose? All the rooftops have pretty much the same shape… or is it about order? Curator: Yes, but beyond that, aren’t the individual chimneys little signals? What kind of domestic narratives are implied there, do you think? Think about warmth, hearth and home, industry. Editor: Okay, yeah, so each rooftop shares similar structure and form and therefore implies community, while each chimney suggests stories about individuals. Curator: You have it! Goedeljee uses visual syntax of space to share continuity and the visual harmony of symbols. Now that you mention individuals in relation to community, is this photograph about faith and community as opposed to faith and individuals? What would that signify for you? Editor: Well, it makes me feel like maybe I was too quick to just call this "romantic," maybe? The church in the context of community changes the image. So, I am not sure how I feel. Curator: I understand that completely. A work's strength comes from the many ways we feel when seeing it!