Basel_ City Hall c. 1890

Editor: Here we have "Basel City Hall," a photograph dating from around 1890, an albumen print on paper by A. Varady & Comp. The sepia tones give the image a nostalgic feeling, and it presents a very solid, almost austere façade of civic power. What strikes you about this image? Curator: This photograph isn't just a record of a building; it’s a statement about power and its relationship to the citizenry. The City Hall, rendered in this albumen print, appears monumental, almost unapproachable, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, definitely. It seems very imposing, and separate from the people in front of it. Curator: Precisely. Think about the historical context. Late 19th-century Europe was a hotbed of social and political change, with burgeoning capitalist economies existing alongside deeply entrenched social hierarchies. This photograph, through its architectural subject, unconsciously presents the civic structure as a potential symbol of control. Note the architectural details chosen by the photographers - are they glorifying municipal authority? What’s the effect of choosing to frame it this way, considering questions of access and equity at that moment in history? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. Seeing it now, I understand that architectural photography is far from apolitical. The photograph presents it as formidable and distinct from the daily life around it. Curator: Exactly! Photography, like architecture, reflects and reinforces social ideologies, whether intentionally or not. Examining historical works allows us a window into their underlying power dynamics. Editor: This gives me a whole new way of looking at architectural photography. Thank you! Curator: And it offers critical awareness of the visual and political languages still circulating today. Thank you.