Interieur van de Nieuwezijds Kapel, Amsterdam, tijdens de sloop in 1908 1908

Albert Adriaansz made this photograph of the Nieuwezijds Kapel in Amsterdam during its demolition in 1908. The photograph is full of light and shadow, and it's interesting to think about how Adriaansz approached this historical space. The light from the windows creates this delicate range of tones, from the bright highlights to the almost black shadows. The way he captures the textures of the building—the rough stone, the smooth columns, even the debris on the floor—adds to the sense of decay and change. There's a feeling of melancholy as well, a sense of something being lost. The sharp lines of the architecture are softened by the gentle light, making it feel almost dreamlike. It’s like he is capturing the ghost of the building. It reminds me a bit of some of Atget's photographs of old Paris, this idea of capturing a moment in time before it disappears forever. Art is an ongoing conversation, always looking back and forward at the same time.