Gezicht op de Rue des Bois met de stallen van de postpaarden te Sainte-Menehould before 1866

Curator: This photograph by Charles Leymarie, taken before 1866, offers a glimpse into a past era. "Gezicht op de Rue des Bois met de stallen van de postpaarden te Sainte-Menehould," depicts a seemingly ordinary street scene, yet its very ordinariness captures something significant. Editor: It’s so unassuming, isn’t it? It doesn't seem staged or romanticized, just... a regular street with buildings and the suggestion of a working stable. What do you see in it? Curator: I see the nascent stages of modern life. The photograph serves as a historical document, showing not just the buildings but a specific moment in the evolving transportation infrastructure and labour practices of the 19th century. It implicitly raises questions about class structures and mobility, particularly considering the role of horses in powering societal function, what this labor looks like and who performs it? Who owned those horses, and who benefitted from their labor? Editor: So you're seeing this image as connected to labor history? Curator: Precisely. It is easy to overlook the crucial labor performed by horses and, by extension, the individuals who cared for them and maintained the system. This photography implicitly foregrounds inequalities that existed regarding transportation, access, and, subsequently, opportunities in that society. Editor: It’s amazing how a simple street view can reflect so much about society. It really puts into perspective the layers of history embedded within a single image. Curator: Absolutely. By analyzing its socio-economic context, we come closer to acknowledging the multitude of silenced histories within. These are glimpses into power structures and inequalities we often overlook.