Gezichten op Wenen 1930 - 1931

Curator: Immediately, a sense of melancholic grandeur pervades. The muted tones and orderly arrangement evoke a bygone era. Editor: We are looking at a page from a photo album entitled "Gezichten op Wenen", or "Views of Vienna," made by Berti Hoppe between 1930 and 1931, using gelatin silver prints. This sheet contains a series of carefully arranged photographs. Let's delve a bit into the material choices here, as well as their origins. Gelatin silver prints were really the dominant process of the era… mass producible… but also capable of very fine detail. This speaks to a growing popular interest in photography and also points towards the mechanization and standardization in this art production that was becoming the status quo. Curator: Yes, the materiality contributes greatly. The stark contrast inherent in the gelatin-silver process emphasizes the architectural forms, heightening the play of light and shadow, right? Consider the images individually and what they do together in composition to enhance our overall understanding of these views. Each photo meticulously captures aspects of Vienna's architecture and public life: The Rathaus, Burggarten... all imbued with stillness. Editor: Looking beyond mere representation, the specific focus on cityscapes reflects socio-political currents. Vienna, during this time, was known as Red Vienna, undertaking major social reforms while grappling with poverty. Do you think her compositions attempt to sanitize some of that socio-political struggle through selective cropping and composition, removing working-class labor in exchange for pristine governmental structures? Curator: An interesting thought! But perhaps the artist aimed to showcase civic pride, emphasizing places for community engagement even within difficult circumstances. I see the aestheticized cityscape as the very symbol of a utopian civic space that, for a time, existed. Editor: True. Either way, considering Hoppe’s position and potential motivations allows for an interpretation of the artwork that isn't based merely on her photography as documents of pretty buildings. Curator: These varying views and potential influences really underscore just how multilayered this composition truly is. Editor: It certainly makes this gelatin silver print an exciting example of photographic history, far exceeding just "city views" if one cares to dig deeper into process and production.