Muurschilderingen in de Dom van Utrecht 1891

This photograph was taken by an anonymous photographer from Monumentenzorg, depicting the murals in the Dom of Utrecht. The image’s power lies in its portrayal of surfaces, and it is very much about the relationship between the mural paintings and the materials of the church. It appears as if the murals are being stripped back to the bare bones of the building. There’s a powerful contrast between the meticulous work required to originally create the murals, and the destructive processes of preservation to reveal this glimpse into history. The social context is also important, especially when we consider the amount of work involved in the process of restoration and how the building would have been used in the past. It allows us to question the boundaries between fine art and craft, and to reflect on the significance of material and making in understanding the artwork’s full meaning.