Preekstoel in de Lutherse kerk te Den Haag 1912

This is a photograph of the Preekstoel, or pulpit, in the Lutheran Church at The Hague. It was taken in February 1912. The object itself, not visible in full detail here, would have been made of carved wood, a material closely associated with both religious iconography and skilled craftsmanship. The process of carving would have required a deep understanding of the material's grain and structural properties. The woodworking tools employed—gouges, chisels, mallets—would have been relatively unchanged for centuries, connecting the maker to a long lineage of artisans. The act of shaping wood into ornate forms carries cultural significance, as woodworking is often tied to wider issues of labor, skill, and the transmission of knowledge. The considerable labor involved in the production of such an object is something to consider. It goes to show that, by attending to the materials and processes that went into an artwork, we can challenge distinctions between 'high art' and craft, gaining a fuller understanding of its meaning.