Gezicht op het stadhuis van Hildesheim c. 1870 - 1900

This monochrome photo shows the town hall of Hildesheim. The anonymous photographer used readily available photographic materials and processes to capture this scene. The photograph's appeal lies in its tangible record of the Hildesheim town hall. The stone from which it was constructed is the principal material we see, with its variations in texture and weight lending an impression of permanence. The many craft traditions involved in quarrying, carving, and laying each stone speak to centuries of labor, technique, and aesthetic vision, and to its status as a municipal symbol. Consider the amount of work that went into building such a grand civic structure, and the many stonemasons, woodworkers, and other craftspeople involved in the process. By emphasizing materiality, making, and context, we can appreciate the full meaning of this artwork and challenge the divisions between fine art and craft.