Façade van Maison des Têtes te Colmar before 1894

This photograph of the Façade van Maison des Têtes te Colmar was created by Charles Bernhoeft. The image is a study in contrasts, highlighting the materiality of the building's facade through the lens of early photography. Look closely, and you'll see the way that light and shadow play across the sculpted stone, revealing a rough, textured surface. Bernhoeft’s choice of photography as a medium is significant. It brings an objective quality to the image. The very act of capturing this architectural detail is a form of preservation. It memorializes the work of countless, often anonymous, stonemasons and artisans who originally built the Maison des Têtes. It is a building celebrated for its ornate facade, and thousands of sculpted heads adorn its surface. The photograph turns our attention to the labor involved in creating such a building, as well as the cultural values that celebrated craftsmanship and ornamentation. We can see the immense work involved in the making of such a building, and we are reminded that craftsmanship and ornamentation are valued.