Vijzelstraat te Amsterdam, voor de verbreding 1900 - 1915

Here's a photograph called Vijzelstraat te Amsterdam, voor de verbreding made by Gebr. van R. The photograph is a scene of urban life: there's a street with buildings, and then there are people scattered throughout. I wonder if the photographer knew what kind of information they were collecting, what they were really seeing, and what they were doing to the world. They used light to give us a glimpse into this specific time and place. It's interesting how a photograph, so often seen as an objective record, is actually full of subjective choices and interpretations, much like a painting. I think about the history and the culture that went into its creation, and I also wonder about the technology that allowed it to be made in the first place. Just like painters, photographers are in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas and inspiring each other across time. It’s a form of expression that embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.