Gedeelte van de Sint-Pertrusbasiliek te Oirschot 1890 - 1920

This is a photograph of a section of St. Peter's Basilica in Oirschot, made by an anonymous photographer. It's not about slick perfection, it's about the kind of looking that comes from repeated visits. The color palette is limited, almost monochrome, with sepia tones lending a historical feel. The light is soft, and the focus isn't razor-sharp. What I see is a real interest in the material reality of the basilica; its stone and brickwork. The bricks are laid with repetitive horizontality, and yet each has its subtle texture, its irregularities. I like the marks of time we can see on the stone, which speaks to me of the physical, human presence that constructed it. I think this reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who photographed industrial structures like water towers with such objectivity, yet revealed their profound sculptural qualities. Art, like buildings, is an ongoing conversation across time. We just need to learn how to listen.