Façade van het Edams Museum 1905

This photogravure of The Edams Museum was made in the early 20th Century. The brown tone gives the image a sepia wash, it's not quite monochrome but not colourful either, a bit like looking into the past. What gets me about this image is the way the light catches the facade of the museum. The texture of the brickwork is almost palpable, you can imagine the grit under your fingertips. Look at the detail around the windows and the roof, there's a real sense of craft, the hand of the maker is present. The people standing in the doorway invite you into the space, offering a glimpse of the life that happens within. This reminds me of Atget's photographs of Paris, the way he captured the city as a living, breathing entity. There's a similar sensibility here, a sense of place and history. Art doesn't need to be complicated, sometimes it's just about seeing the beauty in the everyday.