Straatgezicht in St. Louis 1904 - 1905

This is Jan Schüller's photograph, "Straatgezicht in St. Louis," the exact date of which remains unknown. Schüller, born in Rotterdam, spent time in the United States, documenting its urban landscapes through his lens. This small, faded image encapsulates the complex interplay between industrial progress and human experience. The street scene, with its horse-drawn carriage and early tram, suggests a society on the cusp of modernity. The figures gathered at the street corner are seemingly frozen in time, their identities obscured, hinting at the anonymity of city life. What stories do these figures hold? As viewers, we become implicated in the construction of this historical narrative. Schüller invites us to reflect on the ways in which urban environments shape our identities and lived experiences, and the silent stories held within the frame of a photograph.