Steeg te Leiden, met op de achtergrond de toren van het Stadhuis before 1894

Charles L. Mitchell captured this photogravure of ‘Steeg te Leiden, met op de achtergrond de toren van het Stadhuis,’ in an open book. Here, the narrow street is not merely a backdrop but a stage where the quotidian realities of Leiden play out. The tower of the Stadhuis looms, a stoic witness to the daily lives unfolding below. This image is suggestive of what it means to live in the city and the relationship of one's identity to a specific place. The absence of human figures, save for the indistinct presence of workers, invites the viewer to imagine the stories of those who inhabit this space. The cobblestone street, worn smooth by countless footsteps, hints at the passage of time and the layers of history embedded within the urban landscape. Mitchell’s photogravure feels like an invitation to reflect on the unseen narratives that shape our understanding of place and belonging.