Twee schietgaten van de Burcht van Leiden 1891

This albumen print shows two embrasures in the brickwork of Leiden Castle. It was made in 1891 by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg, the Dutch agency for the preservation of historical buildings. The image shows a cross-section of Leiden Castle’s brickwork, with two arches, and their corresponding loopholes. Brickwork is typically associated with the industrial revolution, but brick has been used as a construction material for millennia. The bricks, made from clay, reflect the landscape and the skilled labor involved in their production. Here, the regular arrangement of the bricks contrasts with the defensive purpose of the structure. The act of photographing these defensive features acknowledges the ongoing process of preserving national heritage, turning something functional into a cultural artifact. Considering the history of materials and making allows us to think critically about labor, class, and the ways in which buildings embody cultural values.