Huis en een schoolgebouw in Scharnegoutum, op de achtergrond een kerktoren c. 1905 - 1907

This black and white photograph shows a house and school building in Scharnegoutum, with a church tower in the background, made by Folkert Idzes de Jong. The subtle tonal gradations and textures are captivating. Look at the wrought iron fence in front of the house. The filigree of the ironwork is so light it almost vanishes into the stark monochrome. You can see the inscription ‘Scharnegoutum’ in the lower right corner, written in the artist’s hand. De Jong has embraced photography as a medium to document the architectural landscape of his native Friesland. His work reminds me of Eugène Atget, who also captured the vernacular architecture of his locale. There is a poignancy to these images. They are a testament to art’s ability to freeze a moment in time. It's like these buildings are patiently waiting for us to unlock their stories.