Neuer Markt in Wenen, gezien richting het noorden 1908 - 1909

Curator: Here we have an early photograph capturing the hustle and bustle of Vienna's Neuer Markt, dating back to around 1908 or 1909. Editor: It certainly conveys a sense of frenetic energy. The grayscale and perspective make the whole street scene look rather dense and claustrophobic. Curator: Observe the photograph's structure: the artist's focus is rigidly fixed in capturing the perspective; lines receding towards the background form an inverted ‘V’. The rigid arrangement evokes a sense of stability in this otherwise restless environment. Editor: Interesting point! What strikes me most are the horse-drawn carriages and early automobiles; can you imagine the labor involved in maintaining all of that infrastructure, the literal tonnes of hay and feed that would have needed moving into the city on a daily basis? Or think of all of the stable hands, drivers, and other trades who depended upon this activity! Curator: Such elements lend an unmistakable rhythm to the composition—the repetitive shapes of the carriages mirror one another. Note how the rooftops ascend to the firmament, symbolizing mankind's architectural aspirations. Editor: Sure, one can say that the architecture of those days served symbolic purposes; still, what remains quite evident is the cost, labour, and materials necessary for sustaining these city infrastructures. Photography being one of the documentary mediums available for people of the future to look back and observe those past human activities. Curator: The charm is palpable. These kinds of compositions take viewers on a journey that blurs the frontier between simple reality and pictorial poetry. Editor: Absolutely; and reflecting upon all this has prompted an even more keen sense for what it meant to live and work in the days when Vienna was flourishing with these modes of transports. I am also very impressed to imagine all the working hours of post-production in creating photographs. Curator: It really inspires fresh thinking, I suppose.