Poortgebouw (achterzijde) op het Jonas Daniël Meijerplein, opgericht ter gelegenheid van het 25-jarig regeringsjubileum van koning Willem III 1874

This photograph of the Poortgebouw was taken by Andries Jager in the late 19th century. The image shows a monumental gate constructed in honor of King Willem III's 25th anniversary as ruler. Looking closely, the stark materiality of stone stands in contrast to the ethereal quality of the photographic medium. The built structure would have involved extensive quarrying, carving, and construction – a significant investment of labor. The photograph, by comparison, offers a seemingly effortless capture, yet it too involved complex chemistry and skilled darkroom work. Consider how photography, as an emerging technology, democratized image-making. While grand architectural projects like this gate celebrated royal power, photography allowed for a wider circulation and documentation of such displays. It is a reminder that every image, like every object, is born of specific processes, reflecting the social and technological conditions of its time.