Gezicht op de gevel van huis De Zon op het Lange Delft in Middelburg before 1894

This is an anonymous print of the building “De Zon op het Lange Delft in Middelburg,” it’s part of a series called Architectuur der Nederlanden, or Architecture of the Netherlands. Prints like this one, were not just about documenting buildings. They were about shaping ideas about Dutch identity and heritage. As photography became more widespread, architectural prints served as tools for preservation and nationalistic pride, in a period of significant cultural and political change. Consider the context: the late 19th century saw rising nationalism across Europe. Architectural prints contributed to a shared sense of identity. Who decided which buildings were worthy of preservation? What stories did these structures tell about the nation's past, and whose stories were left out? As you look at this elaborate facade, think about the power dynamics at play in shaping a nation's architectural narrative. Consider what it means to preserve not just buildings, but also the values and ideologies they represent.