Gezicht op de Grote of Sint-Stephanuskerk te Hasselt 1904

This photograph of the Sint-Stephanuskerk in Hasselt—we don't know who took it, but it was made sometime in the past. It's this really interesting, subdued monochrome. What gets me is the contrast between the solid, architectural permanence of the church versus the almost ghost-like figures on the street. They're blurred, ephemeral, as if the photo is grappling with time itself. It’s a bit like a Rothko, that kind of hazy, hard-to-pin-down feeling. The cobblestone street has this cool, tactile quality. You can almost feel the unevenness under your feet. The buildings on either side are sharply defined, drawing your eye to the towering church in the distance. But it's the soft light, that washes over everything, that ties it all together, creating this melancholic mood. The way the image feels slightly out of focus reminds me of Corot's landscapes, this sense of capturing a fleeting moment. It’s not just a record; it’s a whole vibe.