Toegangsportaal van een woning aan Stiftgasse 5 te Wenen before 1894

Editor: So, here we have a print from before 1894, an image called "Toegangsportaal van een woning aan Stiftgasse 5 te Wenen," which translates to "Entrance portal of a house on Stiftgasse 5 in Vienna." It’s anonymous, sadly. The photo’s stark contrast gives it this somber, almost…ghostly feel, doesn't it? I’m curious, what’s your take on it? What stands out to you? Curator: The ghosts are absolutely there, aren't they? For me, this image feels like stumbling upon a secret. The building, framed by the photographic print, becomes a stage. Notice the intricate details above the entrance arch; it’s as if the building is whispering stories of the past. And those windows – what’s happening in there? The hint of someone gazing out… creates a kind of intimate, unspoken dialogue across time. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Are we watching them or are they watching us? Editor: Absolutely. It's eerie but compelling. Do you think the choice to capture just the entrance has some significance? Curator: Definitely. That entrance, embellished in that oh-so-fabulous Art Nouveau style, serves as both invitation and barrier, doesn't it? It hints at the promise of warmth, and artistry contained within, even if the photography itself feels rather cold. What I really love is the way the photo freezes that tension between the street – that public space - and the private world behind the door. Imagine the comings and goings, the lives lived, the stories unfolding behind that facade. Don't you just want to walk right in? Editor: Yes! This conversation made me see how an image can capture not just a place, but also a sense of suspended anticipation. Curator: And how cool is it to think we’ve unlocked just a sliver of that building’s story? It’s amazing what a little imaginative wandering can reveal!