Toren van de Hervormde Kerk te Sprang-Capelle 1895

This image of the tower of the Reformed Church at Sprang-Capelle was made by an anonymous photographer from Monumentenzorg. It's a gelatin silver print, a process which dominated photography for nearly a century. With this technique, a coating of light-sensitive silver halide crystals are set within a layer of gelatin, and applied to a paper base. The tones we see here emerge in the developing process. It’s a relatively direct medium, yet like all photographs it also captures light, place and time. The image is as much a document as it is a work of art. Monumentenzorg, which translates to "monument care," likely commissioned the photograph as part of a broader effort of conservation and preservation. The gelatin silver print, relatively inexpensive and easily reproducible, was perfect for the task. So, consider photography not only as an artistic medium, but also as a vital tool in shaping our understanding of history and cultural heritage.