Gezicht op de Lombardsbrücke in Hamburg 1885

Editor: Here we have Sophus Williams' "Gezicht op de Lombardsbrücke in Hamburg," an albumen print from 1885. It's such a serene scene. What strikes me most is the stillness of the water and the soft focus of the city in the background. How do you interpret this work? Curator: That stillness is deceptive. Think about Hamburg in 1885, a bustling port city, a hub of trade and migration. This photograph, through its pictorialist lens, sanitizes that reality. It presents a vision of order and calm, subtly reinforcing the dominant narratives of progress and control. What do you make of the position of the viewer? High above, looking down, removed. Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't considered the viewpoint as potentially political. Is it about class? The photographer positioned "above" the scene? Curator: Exactly. The vantage point establishes a clear hierarchy, suggesting a separation between the viewer and the lived experiences of the city's inhabitants. Consider, too, who had access to photography at this time. Who was controlling the narrative and whose stories were being left out? Do you think the soft focus might also serve a purpose? Editor: Perhaps to gloss over any harsh realities? To romanticize the scene for a specific audience? Curator: Precisely. By blurring the details, Williams perhaps aimed to create a more palatable, aesthetically pleasing image – one that avoids confronting the complexities of urban life and reinforces established power dynamics. The choice of albumen print further underscores the deliberate construction of an image rooted in the aesthetic preferences of its time. Editor: I never would have thought about all the underlying social issues that this landscape touches upon! Thanks for pointing out that photography isn't always objective, that the photographer brings in context and narrative, it is all about choices. Curator: Exactly. Now when you see this photograph, what else might you be able to explore, understand, unpack about our society? Keep looking and questioning.