Oostelijke kloostergang van de Sint-Servaasbasiliek te Maastricht 1893

This is a photograph of the east cloister of the Sint-Servaasbasiliek in Maastricht, made by an anonymous photographer. The print is sepia toned, a process that alters the silver particles in the paper to silver sulfide, giving it a warm brown hue. The tonal range is soft, creating a sense of depth as the vaulted ceiling recedes into the distance. The photograph’s material presence is key, as photography was still a relatively new medium at this time, and the act of capturing and fixing an image was almost magical. The photographer carefully considered how to capture the architecture, likely choosing a viewpoint that emphasizes the height and grandeur of the cloister. The very act of photographing the space imbued the architecture with social significance and cultural value. This intersection between technology and craft invites us to think about the changing landscape of image-making and its impact on how we perceive and preserve our built environment.