Moskee van de Sjah (Masjed-e Shah) in Isfahan, Perzië c. 1925

This photograph of the Shah Mosque in Isfahan, Persia, was taken by A.G.A. van Eelde. While the date of the photograph is unknown, it encapsulates the artistry and labour inherent in the mosque's construction. The most striking aspect is the facade itself, adorned with intricate tilework. Each tile, likely crafted from fired clay and painted with vibrant mineral pigments, would have been individually placed to create complex geometric and floral patterns. The process is labour-intensive and requires specialized skills passed down through generations of artisans. The photograph also captures a moment of social context: the casual presence of people and animals around the mosque hints at the building's role as a central hub for daily life, and the bicycle on the left perhaps indicates the encroachment of industrialization. The value of this image lies not only in its architectural subject but also in its implicit testimony to the social networks of skilled craftspeople who contributed to the building's construction. It is a reminder of the human effort behind such magnificent structures.