Poort van het Kasteel van Wijchen 1907

This photo of the Gateway to Wijchen Castle was taken by an anonymous photographer, possibly as a record for Monumentenzorg, the Dutch heritage agency. The greyscale here isn’t just a technical constraint of the time, it's a choice. Look at how it simplifies the complex brickwork, flattening it out. It’s almost like an abstract painting, all about texture and form, turning the castle into a study of shapes, light, and shadow. The dark void of the gateway contrasts with the solid, blocky forms of the castle itself. It makes you think about the nature of the photograph as a document, and what is revealed and concealed within the image. It reminds me a little of Atget’s photos of Paris, quiet observations of the everyday that manage to be both factual and dreamlike at the same time. Art isn't just about big statements, it's about these quiet, subtle moments of looking and seeing.