Gezicht op de Sint-Vincentiuskerk te Velp 1911

This sepia photograph of the Sint-Vincentiuskerk in Velp, was made by an anonymous photographer from Monumentenzorg. The church looms, its brickwork rendered in shades of brown, from umber to sand, the bricks are like dabs of paint, each slightly different, a testament to the organic process of creation. The textures are muted, aged, and dignified, and the surface is soft and matte. It feels like time itself has worked on this photograph, softening its edges. A pathway leads the eye to the church, flanked by what appears to be a hedge or thicket. Look closely at the top of the tower: there’s an almost whimsical, snowflake-like design. It's a small detail but it speaks volumes, like a secret code embedded in the structure. This photograph reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographic series of industrial buildings. Like them, this photographer invites us to contemplate the quiet beauty of architecture and the layers of history embedded within.