Gezicht op de Willemskerk in Den Haag 1860 - 1885

Pieter Oosterhuis made this albumen print of the Willemskerk in The Hague sometime in the mid-19th century. As we consider this early photograph, it’s important to remember that the production and circulation of images were undergoing a radical transformation at this time. The advent of photography democratized image-making, challenging the established hierarchies of academic painting. Before the invention of photography, images of buildings like this would have been the domain of the wealthy, who could commission paintings or engravings. This photograph, by contrast, made the image accessible to a wider audience. As historians, we can look at the archives of photographic societies, trade publications, and exhibition catalogs to better understand the role of photography in shaping social perceptions and cultural values. The meaning of this church is thus contingent on its social and institutional context.