Doopvont in de Hervormde Kerk te Ermelo 1890 - 1920

This is a photograph of the Doopvont in de Hervormde Kerk te Ermelo, made by an anonymous photographer. I love how the tonal range is so soft and close in value, just barely suggesting the form of the baptismal font. It’s like a memory surfacing from the depths. The surface texture of the stone, with its subtle variations, hints at the physical labor involved in its creation. I can imagine the stone mason’s hands shaping and carving the stone, each mark a testament to the passage of time. The geometry of the font contrasts with the zigzags and loops around the top like a stoic figure with a playful crown. This piece reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who documented industrial structures with a similar sense of detached observation. Like their photographs, this image invites us to contemplate the relationship between form and function, history and memory, and the ongoing conversation between art and architecture. It leaves space for multiple interpretations, embracing the ambiguity that makes art so endlessly fascinating.