Gezicht op de Adriaen Janskerk te IJsselmonde c. 1890 - 1920

This photograph of the Adriaen Janskerk in IJsselmonde was made by an anonymous photographer, using the techniques of their time. The sepia tones of the print indicate that this is likely an albumen print, a process popular in the 19th century. Think about what's involved in this kind of image-making. The photographer would have coated paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a light-sensitive surface. They would then have used a large format camera, with a glass negative to expose the image. It's a labor-intensive process, a far cry from the instantaneity of modern photography. The choice of this medium speaks to the era’s fascination with capturing the world, a desire to document and preserve that echoes in the work done by Monumentenzorg - the heritage conservation organisation. It's interesting to consider photography, typically associated with modernity, being used to preserve a traditional religious building. This photograph freezes a moment in time, preserving the church, and also offering us a glimpse into the social and cultural values of its era. It reminds us that every image, whether captured with a camera or crafted by hand, carries within it the marks of its making.