Plafond van Vismarkt 16-17 te Leiden 1901

This photograph shows the ceiling of Vismarkt 16-17 in Leiden. The anonymous photographer, working for Monumentenzorg, has captured the texture and form of this architectural detail so well. I love how this photograph highlights process; the way the light falls and the shadows emphasise the different shapes and levels of the moulded plasterwork. It feels like a very physical thing, almost sculptural. I get the sense of someone’s hands at work, pushing and pulling the material into these looping forms. Look at the rosette in the centre of the composition: there are marks and blemishes on the surface, subtle imperfections that give it so much character. This image reminds me a little of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographs of industrial buildings, like water towers and factories. They were also interested in the beauty and artistry of anonymous structures, and how these could be elevated through photography. Ultimately, this image is a reminder that art exists everywhere, even in places we least expect it.