Begraafplaats aan de zuidzijde van de Sint-Lambertuskerk te Rosmalen 1910

This photograph of the cemetery south of the Sint-Lambertuskerk in Rosmalen was taken in March 1910 by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg, the Dutch heritage agency. As a historical document, the photograph speaks to the time, labor, and resources invested in preserving a sense of Dutch identity. Consider the very material presence of the church, made of brick and stone. The labor and skill required to quarry, transport, and assemble these materials represents an enormous investment. Even the humbler grave markers, likely carved by local stonemasons, testify to an ongoing tradition of craft. The photograph itself, though a relatively new technology at the time, also reflects a specific kind of labor. Developing and printing required technical expertise, and the resulting image was intended to serve the agency's mission of documenting and preserving cultural heritage. In that sense, the photograph becomes more than just a record of a place; it becomes an active participant in shaping our understanding of the past.