Westzijde van Kasteel Doornenburg 1903

This sepia print of Westzijde van Kasteel Doornenburg, was made by an anonymous artist, using what I imagine was one of the earliest photographic processes. I find myself wondering what it might have been like for the artist to create this scene. Did they have to wait a long time to capture a single shot? The image is bathed in a soft, muted light. The surface of the photographic paper has a slight texture to it, which gives it a tactile quality. There is a strange, almost ethereal quality to the landscape. It’s like a memory, something that’s both present and absent at the same time. The ruined castle feels solid and grand, while simultaneously fragile and decaying. Anonymous really captures the conversation between history and the present moment. This photo is a testament to the enduring power of images and how they can continue to speak to us across time.