Zijde van het stadhuis te Gennep c. 1902

This old photograph shows the side of the town hall in Gennep, a small town in the Netherlands. I imagine someone from Monumentenzorg—a Dutch heritage organisation—captured it with care. It's a quiet scene, bathed in soft sepia tones. The texture is smooth, each brick and window rendered with soft focus. Look closely at the way the light falls on the building's surface. There's a gentle emphasis on capturing architectural details. The photograph captures the essence of the building, but it also tells a story about the passage of time and the quiet dignity of this civic structure. When I look at this picture, I am reminded of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who were also very interested in depicting architecture. Like them, this artist emphasizes the formal qualities of the building, its shape and composition. But this photograph also has a kind of handmade feel, which I find very charming.