Preekstoel in de Nieuwe Kerk te Amsterdam 1911

This black and white photograph shows the Preekstoel in de Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Imagine the photographer, whoever they were, hoisting up their heavy equipment in the church, composing the image. I really get a sense of the labor involved in making this image, and feel for the person who took it! There’s a real density to the photograph, a complexity in the depiction of this highly decorated pulpit. The light is diffuse, and the photographic image reveals a multitude of details, capturing a sense of the space in the church. I wonder what it felt like to be the photographer, looking for the best angle and lighting conditions, while contending with all the visual information that is conveyed. What was on their mind? What were they hoping to achieve? Painters and photographers are constantly learning from one another, building on one another’s discoveries and approaches. And in looking closely, we can appreciate not only the final image, but also the complex and challenging circumstances under which it was made.