Noordzijde van de Sint-Pertrusbasiliek te Oirschot 1890 - 1920

This photograph captures the north side of the Sint-Petrusbasiliek in Oirschot, and was made by an anonymous photographer working with Monumentenzorg. The whole image has this sepia wash to it, like it’s been dipped in tea. The tones are consistently warm, so the building becomes a study in subtle variations of brown and beige. You can almost feel the sun beating down on those old bricks. I can imagine the photographer carefully setting up their equipment, maybe feeling a little intimidated by the scale of the building. Did they want to capture a sense of timelessness or document a piece of history? Or perhaps they simply wanted to preserve a beautiful structure. We see a few leafy branches that soften the hard, angular lines of the architecture, reminding us that nature and human creation can coexist. And just look at the way the light plays on the surfaces, creating depth and texture. It’s a reminder that even the most monumental structures are made up of individual, imperfect pieces, connected by skill and intention.