Vismarkt in Bergen, met schepen op de voorgrond, Noorwegen 1898 - 1935

Curator: Up next, we have a gelatin-silver print entitled "Vismarkt in Bergen, met schepen op de voorgrond, Noorwegen," attributed to Atelier KK and dated sometime between 1898 and 1935. What’s your first impression? Editor: The masts dominate, drawing my eye upward. It’s as if the market scene is cradled by these towering, skeletal structures, hinting at a powerful connection between the town, the sea, and its people. A feeling of nostalgia washes over me. Curator: That's a beautiful observation. The photograph is a stereoscopic image, made of two nearly identical images meant to be viewed with a stereoscope, which merges the two into a single three-dimensional scene. This view provides a very literal kind of depth and realism. Editor: The double image creates an echo effect, making the crowd appear denser, more teeming. But then, there's a sense of confinement too, created by those imposing masts and riggings. The verticality almost cages the chaotic marketplace. Do you think this hints at control and order within the everyday hustle? Curator: I see your point. Perhaps. Consider the cultural memory embedded in maritime symbols. The masts, historically representing guidance and exploration, could symbolize Bergen's long-standing reliance on fishing and trade. Editor: Definitely! Fishing boats mean livelihood, identity, a shared history with the ocean. It could reflect that, the white steeple atop the mountains looking over the people, the land and water meeting in daily life. Curator: This photograph uses realism to capture not just the appearance of the market, but also the tangible link between the culture and the land. Editor: And it speaks to our own relationship with these relics from the past. To what extent do our inherited cultural landscapes inform our own identities and actions? These aren't simply photographs, but portals into our cultural subconscious. Curator: Precisely! This image gives us a means to appreciate not only a specific location, but also an enduring mode of life. Editor: Absolutely. Viewing Atelier KK’s scene evokes the rhythm and rituals, and the deeply etched human story carried within everyday places and objects.