Toren van de Sint-Martinuskerk te Woudrichem 1901

This photograph of the Sint-Martinuskerk in Woudrichem was produced by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg, the Dutch heritage agency. Made using photographic processes of the time, the image is a direct material record of the building itself. The pale sepia tones and soft focus are byproducts of the historic photographic chemistry. Consider the immense labor involved in constructing the church tower itself, brick by brick, over generations. Each brick was formed from local clay, fired, and laid in place, a testament to the skills and physical effort of countless craftspeople. The photograph documents the tower but also bears witness to the social context of its making. By recognizing the making of both the building and the image, we understand how the photograph is a historical artifact in its own right, reflecting evolving approaches to documenting craft and cultural heritage.