Toren van het stadhuis van Kampen 1904

This photograph shows the tower of the town hall in Kampen, and was created by an unknown photographer using traditional photographic processes. Focusing on the materials, the image itself is a product of its time, when photography was rapidly evolving from a niche practice to a widespread means of documentation and expression. The sepia tone hints at the chemicals and processes involved in early photography, and the way they interacted with light to capture an image. The tower is built from stone, with the roof made of tiles. This is a photograph of a building, which in itself had been built using specific materials and techniques. The photograph has a tactile quality that reminds us of the labor and skill involved in constructing the tower. This photograph connects to issues of labor, preservation, and the social context of a specific time and place, emphasizing the importance of materials and making in understanding its full meaning.