Achtergevel van Nieuwstraat 10 te Dordrecht 1911

This photograph of the rear facade of Nieuwstraat 10 in Dordrecht, was taken in January 1911. It feels like the photographer, Monumentenzorg, was interested in the process of documentation. I'm intrigued by how the light glances off the brickwork, creating a kind of textured surface that shifts as you move around it. It reminds me of painting because it's about building up layers, letting the material speak for itself, and embracing imperfections. Take a look at the windows. They're like eyes, aren't they? Reflecting the light, and drawing you into the space within. There's a push and pull between surface and depth. This tension makes the photograph so dynamic, like it's alive and breathing. It reminds me of Eugène Atget’s photographs of Paris, which similarly capture the melancholy beauty of the everyday. Both artists seem to understand that art isn't just about capturing a perfect image, it's about revealing the hidden poetry within the ordinary.