Exterieur van het stadhuis van Delft aan de Markt c. 1860 - 1900

Andries Jager captured the exterior of Delft's city hall on the Markt square using photography. This small photograph offers a glimpse into the architecture and civic life of the Netherlands, likely in the late 19th century. Jager, born in the 1820s, lived through a period of significant social and political change. Photography itself was evolving, becoming more accessible, yet still a medium imbued with the power to document and shape perceptions. The image is not just a neutral record; it is a composition, a choice of perspective. The city hall, grand and imposing, contrasts with the blurred figures in the square, perhaps hinting at the relationship between authority and the everyday lives of citizens. The building stands as a representation of civic identity, yet it also raises questions. Who had access to this space? Whose stories were being told and whose were erased? Consider how this image invites us to reflect on the complexities of urban life.