Grote Markt te Delft met in het midden het standbeeld van Hugo de Groot c. 1860 - 1900

This photograph of the Grote Markt in Delft, featuring the statue of Hugo de Groot, was captured by Andries Jager sometime in the late 19th century using photographic paper. The photograph's sepia tone emerges from the silver salts used to sensitize the paper. This artisanal approach to photography, with its painstaking darkroom processes, allowed for carefully composed images. The photograph shows an interesting moment in time, capturing a bustling Dutch town square. It is easy to overlook that the built environment behind the statue, required just as much care and work to come into being. Delft's architectural environment reflects a society deeply invested in trade, craftsmanship, and community. By considering the labor and materials involved in creating both the photograph and the scene it depicts, we gain a richer understanding of 19th-century Delft.