Gezicht op het stadhuis en een ereboog op het Place de l'Hôtel de Ville in Fribourg 1897

Editor: This is "Gezicht op het stadhuis en een ereboog op het Place de l'Hôtel de Ville in Fribourg," an etching by Ernest Lorson, from 1897. It seems to depict a festive occasion, maybe a parade, with many people gathered in front of the city hall. What stands out to you in this image? Curator: What I find compelling is how this image intersects with notions of civic identity and collective memory. Consider the late 19th century—a period of intense nationalism and the construction of national narratives. How does this representation of a town hall and celebratory arch function within that context? Who is being celebrated here, and what values are being reinforced by erecting such a structure? Editor: So, the triumphal arch isn’t just decoration? Curator: Exactly! Arches are historically associated with imperial power and military victories. Think of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. So, when a smaller city like Fribourg erects a similar structure, even temporarily, it’s making a statement about its own importance, its own history. Do you see how the composition centers the town hall? Editor: Yes, it's very prominent. Curator: The city hall becomes a symbol of the community, and the arch amplifies that symbolic power. It invites us to consider who gets to participate in these celebrations and whose stories are being told – and whose are being left out? Consider the socio-economic status and gender of people depicted, and the context around gender, race, and politics. What can this single image tell us about that critical moment in time? Editor: It makes me wonder about the experience of someone excluded from this civic pride. Thank you. I’ll never see arches the same way again. Curator: Nor will I! Thinking about art in terms of social participation reveals many new angles that should be part of this work's narrative.