Gezicht op vuurwerk boven de haven van Genève Possibly 1896 - 1899

Editor: This print, titled "Gezicht op vuurwerk boven de haven van Genève," by Hamberger Frères, likely from around 1896-1899, captures a fireworks display. I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the dark sky and the burst of light, and its reflections on the water. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This photogravure offers a lens through which to examine the spectacle of nationalism and spectacle during the Belle Époque. The fireworks display isn’t just light and entertainment. We need to consider how it might act as a carefully orchestrated expression of national identity and power, especially in Geneva, a city with a complex history of neutrality and internationalism. Who is invited to the spectacle, and who is excluded? Whose narrative of national identity is being amplified, and whose is being silenced? Editor: That's a fascinating point I hadn't considered. So you are suggesting it isn’t a mere representation of beauty but a political statement, intended for some viewers more than others? Curator: Exactly. The event, like all public spectacles, needs to be examined for what it is designed to perform, and for whom. Fireworks displays are very carefully crafted public relations exercises that say “We have wealth! We have power! We have cultural dominance!” Does the inclusion of Geneva, and Switzerland, as the site change how we look at similar spectacles from Paris, or London? How? Editor: That provides a great new angle on the artwork. It’s helped me appreciate the deeper societal meanings that a seemingly simple image might be projecting. Curator: Indeed. Context helps unlock the narratives embedded within the image, sparking conversations around national identity, power structures, and the representation of belonging during times of intense social change. We learn to question every intention.