Schoorsteen in de raadzaal van het stadhuis te Bergen op Zoom 1911

This photograph captures a chimney in the council chamber of the town hall in Bergen op Zoom, it was taken in April 1911. What's striking about this photo is the way the anonymous photographer has captured the textures and the detail, almost like a rubbing. The chimney itself is so ornately decorated with tiles. A real explosion of shapes. The frieze which crowns the chimney is a standout feature for me. Note the way the architect has placed these maze-like shapes, each one slightly different from the next, almost like brushstrokes in a painting. You can sense the hand of the artist at work. It reminds me of the work of Hans Holbein, he was a master of capturing texture and detail. Art is a conversation and exchange of ideas, each artist borrowing from those who came before. And like any good conversation, it is a journey.