Zuidzijde van de Hervormde Kerk te Pernis 1890 - 1920

This gelatin silver print captures the south side of the Reformed Church in Pernis. The light feels subdued, like a memory fading at the edges, with shades of pale stone blending seamlessly into the overcast sky. I can only imagine what it must have been like for the photographer to capture this imposing structure, and what it would have been like to be a part of this community. Each shot is so intentional, there’s no room to move. It reminds me of those early Renaissance painters who were trying to capture three dimensions on a flat surface. The way the light drapes over the facade feels like a painterly gesture, as if the image itself is composed of strokes of light and shadow. You can almost feel the weight of history pressing down on the architecture. The artist may be anonymous, but they participate in the collective human project to create a sense of shared history. We’re all in conversation together.