Binnenkant van de Burcht van Leiden before 1894

Charles L. Mitchell created this photographic print titled "Binnenkant van de Burcht van Leiden," depicting the courtyard of Leiden Castle. Without specific dates for its creation or Mitchell's life, we consider the historical context of 19th-century photography, a period marked by the rise of industrialization and shifting social hierarchies. Photography democratized image-making, allowing for broader representation, yet its early practice was often dominated by the privileged class. Mitchell's choice to capture the courtyard— a space historically associated with power— invites reflection on how access and representation intersect with social status. Consider the architecture, a structure built on a foundation of power dynamics from the medieval period. In Mitchell's print, we are made aware of these foundations and how they continue to permeate society. Looking at this image, consider how photography both reveals and obscures the past.