Gezicht op Slot Moermond te Renesse 1890 - 1920

Here we see an old photograph of Gezicht op Slot Moermond te Renesse, made by an anonymous photographer using a camera and photographic paper. The sepia tones give this piece an atmospheric quality, like a faded memory, where the details are softened, and the emphasis is on form rather than clarity. It’s interesting how the image is framed by those stark, bare trees. They almost feel like the brushstrokes of a painter, leading your eye towards the central structure, the castle itself. There’s a stillness in this photograph. Look at the texture of the brickwork, each stone seemingly absorbing the light. It’s a tactile experience, even through the photograph. The building is not perfectly symmetrical, and it has a certain organic quality, like the history of that place has seeped into the very walls. This image puts me in mind of Atget, who also documented buildings with a similar eye for detail and atmosphere. Both artists create images which make us think about the passage of time, and the stories embedded within the architectural fabric of our world.