Gezicht op het gebouw van de Sophia Stichting aan de Gevers Deynootweg in Den Haag 1877 - 1901

This photograph of the Sophia Stichting building in The Hague was captured by Heinrich Wilhelm Wollrabe using light-sensitive chemicals on paper. The sepia tone and the texture of the print itself speak to the alchemical processes that defined early photography. The image's clarity emphasizes the architectural details of the building, its symmetrical facade, and the repetitive brickwork that makes up its structure. We see a clear relationship between industrial production and social infrastructure, even in this pre-digital era. The photograph also tells us a lot about the work involved in creating an image at this time: the careful composition, the long exposure times, the darkroom processes. Wollrabe was clearly engaging with both scientific advancements and artistic expression. By considering the means of production, we see how this image bridges the gap between documentation and artistic creation.