Kapiteel van een kolom in de crypte van de Abdijkerk te Rolduc 1890

Here is a photograph of a column capital in the crypt of Rolduc Abbey Church, made at an unknown date by an anonymous photographer. We see the upper portion of a column, fluted and decorated with foliage. As a work of architectural documentation, this image might seem to be a straightforward rendering of a historical artifact. But consider for a moment the role played by photography in the preservation and institutionalization of cultural heritage. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, photography became a crucial tool for the emerging field of art history. It allowed scholars to study and compare architectural details across vast distances, contributing to the classification and understanding of styles like Romanesque, which we see represented here. This image from Rolduc Abbey serves as a reminder that our understanding of art is always mediated by institutions, technologies, and individuals, each shaping the way we perceive and interpret the past. To further understand the art of the past, we can begin with the examination of historical records, architectural plans, and the writings of art historians.