Reproductie van een prent van een gezicht op de Dam te Amsterdam before 1883

Editor: Here we have, within this bound volume, a reproduction of a print of a view of the Dam Square in Amsterdam, made before 1883. It's attributed to Emile Aubry and appears to be a photograph of the original print. The photograph medium flattens the space somehow; it's grand, but also distant. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This image speaks volumes about the construction of national identity through representation. The Dam Square, as a central gathering place, becomes a stage upon which Dutch identity is performed and visually disseminated. Who is represented in this image, and whose narrative is privileged? Editor: I see a lot of buildings and carriages; not many people are immediately visible. Curator: Exactly. Consider the power structures inherent in depicting a cityscape devoid of individual voices, reduced to a picturesque scene. The rise of photography allowed for wider distribution of such imagery, reinforcing certain perceptions and excluding others. Does this perspective represent a commoner’s point of view? Or that of a more privileged class? Editor: So the image, while seemingly objective, actually reinforces social hierarchies of the time? Curator: Precisely. Think about who had access to creating, viewing, and owning such images. It reveals much about social power dynamics of that era and perhaps even today. Editor: It is strange to think of something as seemingly innocuous as a city scene containing hidden stories of the elite class and their power over society. Curator: Understanding the historical and social context encourages a dialogue between art history and contemporary theory, placing the art within the broader narratives of the ruling elite and their impression upon history. Editor: Thanks; this makes me see the print and photograph in a totally different way!