Gezicht op Oslo vanaf Ekeberg, Nordstrand c. 1867 - 1900

Editor: This photograph, “Gezicht op Oslo vanaf Ekeberg, Nordstrand” by Axel Lindahl, was taken sometime between 1867 and 1900. It’s a panoramic view of Oslo, a cityscape rendered in the soft, pictorialist style. There’s a stillness to it, almost sepia-toned, making it feel like a scene frozen in time. What stories do you think this image holds? Curator: I see a critical narrative about progress and place. Lindahl's work exists in a liminal space - technologically progressive with photography, but visually reminiscent of romantic landscape painting. This manufactured nostalgia invites us to question whose stories get prioritized when progress marches forward. Who is able to access this newly industrialized Oslo, and who is displaced? Editor: So, you’re seeing it as a commentary on the social impact of industrialization? Curator: Precisely! Consider the vantage point. We’re viewing the city from Ekeberg, a place slightly removed, creating a sense of detachment. This compositional choice, along with the soft focus, suggests a mediated view of reality. Was this 'progress' equally beautiful for all involved? Photography was and still is used to manipulate perceptions and normalize social realities, for both the dominant class, as well as for resistance. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. I was focused on the aesthetic beauty. Curator: The aesthetic is crucial, but never neutral. What do you think the lack of human presence signifies? Who benefits when cities erase marginalized communities from its visual narratives? Editor: That’s such an important point. This photograph becomes not just a picture of a city, but a record, deliberate or not, of shifting power dynamics and the politics of visibility. Curator: Absolutely. It prompts us to confront the ethics of representation and the hidden narratives embedded in even the seemingly most objective images. It's always about challenging assumptions. Editor: Thanks, this reframed how I think about not only this piece, but all visual media.