Tolhuis te Gorinchem 1890 - 1915

This is a vintage photograph of the Tolhuis in Gorinchem, made by an anonymous photographer. It’s a sepia-toned image that presents a cluster of buildings, each with its own architectural quirks, huddled together. I can imagine the photographer carefully framing this shot, considering the light and the shadows that give form to the structures. I wonder about their thought process, their desire to capture this particular alignment of shapes and forms. There's a sense of timelessness about it, a slice of history preserved in a gelatin silver print. The textures are subtle—the rough brickwork, the smooth surfaces of the windows. The photographer, like a painter, uses light to sculpt the subject, creating depth and emphasizing certain details over others. In a way, they’re both builders, constructing an image, brick by photographic brick. The image reminds me of other architectural photographers and painters who have been drawn to the play of light and shadow on buildings. Photography and painting share a language of form, line, and tone, and both allow for a multiplicity of viewpoints.