Gezicht op het Binnenhof met de Ridderzaal tijdens de restauratie 1902

This undated photograph shows the Binnenhof during restoration, probably taken by someone at the Department for Preservation. It’s a photograph, so the marks are made with light. The sepia tones create a uniform palette, with the building’s facade, trees, and sky all rendered in a narrow tonal range, and this gives the image a dreamy, historical quality, like a faded memory. The photograph is not crisp. It's partially obscured by trees, creating a layered effect; it obscures the clarity, and invites closer looking, questioning, and imagining what lies beneath. Look at the way the photographer has framed the image. The large tree on the left acts as a screen, partially obscuring the main subject, which is the building itself. I find the way the building is veiled so beautiful, which elevates the photograph beyond a mere record. There’s a sense of intimacy, as though we are not meant to see the scene so clearly. Much like life, where clarity is a luxury. Think of Atget, or even some of the Pictorialists! So good.