Toren van de Grote of Martinikerk te Doesburg 1899

This photograph of the tower of the Martinikerk in Doesburg was produced by the Dutch office of Monumentenzorg, or monuments care. The agency emerged in the late 19th century alongside other institutions dedicated to the preservation of national heritage, a movement that served newly unified nation-states like Germany, and older nations like the Netherlands. You'll notice how the architectural details of the great church are emphasized, yet people on the street are barely visible. This visual code speaks to the cultural values of the time, which esteemed historical structures as the primary markers of national identity. When we interpret art in light of the history of institutions, we are better able to understand their purpose, and the context in which they were created. This kind of research relies on a variety of primary documents, including administrative records, photographs, and publications.