Pilaren met hiëroglyfen, Egypte c. 1900 - 1910

Mr. L. de Bruyn made this photograph of columns with hieroglyphs in Egypt, sometime in the past. The soft sepia tone gives the picture a feeling of distance, of something seen through time. You can almost feel the photographer setting up their equipment, choosing the right angle to capture the immense scale and intricate details of the hieroglyphs. Look closely at the columns on the right. The hieroglyphs are so finely detailed, a testament to the skill of the original artisans. Each mark tells a story, a kind of open-ended, visual poetry. The light catches the rough edges of the stone, making visible the way it’s been weathered by the elements. It reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who also documented industrial structures with such care and attention to detail. This photograph isn't just a document; it's a meditation on time, history, and the enduring power of human expression. It reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, stretching back through centuries.