Ruiterstandbeeld van prins Albert te Wolverhampton before 1867

This is Robert W. Thrupp's photograph of the equestrian statue of Prince Albert in Wolverhampton. Though we don't have an exact date for this image, we can situate it within the Victorian era, a time marked by the expansion of the British Empire and rigid social hierarchies. Equestrian statues were, and perhaps still are, potent symbols of power. Here, Prince Albert is depicted in a way that reinforces his position of authority, astride a horse, elevated above the common person. We might consider how such monuments play into the narrative of colonialism, representing power structures that were often imposed upon colonized populations. Thrupp’s photograph also captures a slice of Victorian life, complete with the architecture and fashion of the time. It's a reminder of how public art serves to shape not only our understanding of history but also our present-day experiences of space and identity. Public monuments influence who and what we celebrate, and what stories we continue to tell ourselves about who we are.