Zuidzijde van het koor van de Sint-Bavokerk te Aardenburg 1909

This is a photograph, of the south side of the Sint-Bavokerk in Aardenburg, taken in August 1929. The anonymous photographer really captured the essence of the building, didn’t they? I love the way the light catches the brickwork, giving it a sense of depth and texture. It’s almost like you can feel the age of the building just by looking at it, and the softness of the light helps create a mood. Look how the light falls on that central window, how it suggests light coming in from the outside. The contrast between the dark shadows and the bright highlights gives the photograph a real sense of drama, like an old silent movie. The way the details fade into the darkness makes you wonder about all the things that are hidden from view. This reminds me a bit of some of the work of Eugène Atget, but maybe with a bit more emotional punch. It’s a reminder that photography, like any art form, is all about capturing a moment in time and making it speak to us in new ways.