Detail van het koorhek van de Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk te Rotterdam 1911

This photograph from 1911 captures a detail of the choir screen in the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk in Rotterdam. I'm wondering about the metalworker who crafted this screen, and what it might have been like to work on such a detailed, large-scale object. Imagine the intensity of the forge, the physical effort of shaping the metal, bending and joining each delicate element. The texture of the metal itself, rough yet refined through skilled manipulation. What I love about metalwork is how it combines decorative and functional elements. The screen serves as a barrier, but it’s also an intricate and ornate object. You can feel the dialogue between the different crafts; the sculpture and architecture are also a part of the construction. It reminds me of collaborations between artists. Each one inspires the other, creating a more complex object than any of them could make on their own. These kinds of structures, both literally and figuratively, are built on conversation and connection.