Gezicht op de basiliek Notre-Dame van Orcival 1902

This photograph of the Notre-Dame basilica in Orcival was made by Delizy, using a process involving light-sensitive chemicals on paper. What I find interesting is the link between the building’s heavy stonework and the photographer's materials. The basilica, with its rounded arches and massive tower, speaks to the enduring qualities of stone. Each block was quarried, cut, and laid by hand, a testament to human labor. The photograph, in its own way, mirrors this process. Just as the stonemason shapes the raw material into something lasting, so too does the photographer manipulate light and chemicals to capture a moment in time. The final print, like the basilica itself, is a tangible record of a careful and deliberate act of making. By considering the materials and processes involved in both the creation of the basilica and its photographic representation, we can appreciate the cultural significance of each, and how their distinct histories intersect.