Noordzijde van de Hervormde Kerk te Schelluinen 1897

This photograph of the north side of the Hervormde Kerk in Schelluinen was taken in April 1907 by an anonymous photographer working with Monumentenzorg, the Dutch heritage agency. The image is a direct record of the materials and construction of the church, and its built environment: the bricks, mortar, and hand-laid tiles. This was before the age of digital photography; the gelatin silver process required careful control of light, exposure, and development. The final print, mounted on card, is as much an artifact as the church itself. The level gaze of the camera, recording the vernacular architecture and the careful labor of the anonymous bricklayers, emphasizes the value in everyday building. By focusing on photography's capacity to document material culture, we can appreciate the skill and craft invested in even the most modest architectural structures, celebrating the artistry inherent in the built world.