Prentbriefkaart uit archief Philip Zilcken before 1909

This photograph, a postcard from the archive of Philip Zilcken by mevrouw Cals, presents the Ensemble du Chateau, and looks like a fairly straightforward architectural shot. But let's look closer. See how the surface almost shimmers? Like the way light can give the impression of movement in a painting, the light here creates a sense of depth and perspective. The texture is rough, almost palpable. The stones of the castle aren't just shapes; they're rendered with such care that they have a kind of emotional weight. I'm drawn particularly to the way the stone of the largest tower is rendered in light and shadow, and how this contrasts to the smooth conical roof. This reminds me a bit of the architectural photography of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who approached their subjects with similar care and attention to detail. It’s a good reminder that art isn't just about grand gestures, but also about the accumulation of small moments of looking, of observation, and of care.