Singel gezien naar de Munttoren in Amsterdam c. 1860 - 1875

Curator: Editor: Here we have an anonymous gelatin silver print, taken sometime between 1860 and 1875, titled *Singel gezien naar de Munttoren in Amsterdam*, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It feels incredibly still. The water is so calm, reflecting the buildings. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, considering its creation during a period of significant social upheaval and industrial change, I am struck by the way this image monumentalizes the bourgeois comfort of Amsterdam. How does the perspective, framed by the canal, potentially reinforce existing power structures? Editor: I hadn't considered the framing in that way. It’s almost like a stage, presenting this idealized view of the city, rather than showing, perhaps, the less appealing sides of urban life at the time? Curator: Precisely! What’s also critical here is understanding who had access to this technology and who was being excluded from this visual representation. In what ways might the creation and consumption of images like this have reinforced existing social hierarchies? Also, considering the subject - can we reflect on the gendered nature of urban space at the time? Editor: That's a powerful point. This calm cityscape seems to mask the realities of everyday life for many people. It's unsettling. The focus on established buildings feels almost complicit. I guess I was initially drawn to its apparent beauty, without thinking about who was absent from the picture, both literally and figuratively. Curator: And that initial draw is exactly the complexity we should sit with. Now how might contemporary photographers engage differently with similar subjects to expose the complex dynamics of the city? Editor: That really reframes my thinking about photography and its role in society. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely, this conversation helps illuminate the multiple layers within such images!