Interieur van de Nieuwezijds Kapel te Amsterdam, tijdens de sloop in 1908 1908

Albert Adriaansz captured this photograph of the Nieuwezijds Chapel in Amsterdam during its demolition in 1908. The print, made using gelatin silver, reveals the stark interior of a building in transition. Consider the labor involved, both in the chapel's initial construction and its dismantling. We see stone columns, likely quarried and transported with considerable effort, now standing amidst the dust of demolition. The large windows, once symbols of enlightenment, offer a glimpse into a changing urban landscape, reflecting the socio-economic forces reshaping Amsterdam at the turn of the century. Adriaansz’s choice of photography itself – a relatively new and increasingly accessible medium – speaks to a shift in how we document and understand our built environment. Rather than a grand painting, he offers us an industrial, documentary image. This photograph challenges our understanding of value and preservation. It compels us to recognize the labor, materials, and social context embedded in both creation and destruction. Ultimately questioning the traditional distinction between art and documentation.