Interieur van de Dom van Keulen met zicht op het koor c. 1860 - 1870

Editor: This is Anselm Schmitz's "Interior of the Cologne Cathedral with a View of the Choir," a gelatin silver print from around 1860 to 1870. The symmetry and the rows of pews create this really striking sense of depth. What captures your attention in this photograph? Curator: I’m struck by the documentation of labor inherent in the photograph itself, not just the architecture. Consider the material reality: silver, gelatin, and the complex chemical processes involved. Schmitz wasn't just capturing light; he was employing industrial techniques. It wasn't merely about artistic vision, but about production. Editor: So you’re saying the act of creating the photograph is as important as the subject matter? Curator: Precisely. Think about the social context: photography was becoming more accessible, transforming how people experienced architecture and art. Images like this democratized access, turning monumental spaces into reproducible commodities. Look at how the architectural grandeur is reduced, made portable. How does this mass reproduction impact the perceived value of both the photograph AND the Cologne Cathedral? Editor: It almost cheapens it, making the sacred more mundane. Curator: Or, perhaps it broadens access. Whose gaze is privileged here? The photographer, the church, or the emerging mass audience? Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at it, considering how the photograph becomes a commodity in itself, distanced from the actual spiritual experience. I learned how this piece speaks volumes about art production of that time. Curator: Yes, shifting our understanding beyond just aesthetics into socio-economic factors influencing what is displayed, how, and to whom.