Gezicht op de Hervormde Kerk te Kootwijk 1903

This photograph of the Hervormde Kerk in Kootwijk was made at some point, by someone from Monumentenzorg – which translates to ‘care of monuments’. It’s amazing how a simple photograph can freeze a place in time, showing us not just what a building looked like, but also how someone saw it. The soft, almost blurry quality of the image gives it a dreamy feel. The light is even, making the stone look smooth. It almost feels like touching the church, feeling the cool stone under your fingers. Look at the way the light catches the edges of the roof tiles; they almost look like they're breathing. It makes me think of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who documented industrial structures with a similar kind of detached affection. This image is a reminder that even the most functional photographs can be full of feeling and beauty. It’s a lovely, quiet piece.