Strasbourg Cathedral c. 19th century

Editor: This is John Coney's "Strasbourg Cathedral." It's hard to tell the exact date. The detail is incredible! What strikes me is how Coney chooses to portray this massive structure in relation to the people in the foreground. What's your take? Curator: It’s fascinating how Coney, an American silversmith, depicted a European monument. Consider the role of architectural prints in shaping perceptions of European grandeur, particularly for an American audience still defining its own identity. Editor: So, it's less about the cathedral itself and more about what it represented to Americans at the time? Curator: Precisely. It’s about the projection of power, history, and artistic achievement, and how those ideas were consumed and reinterpreted across the Atlantic. Something to consider, anyway. Editor: That’s a completely different way to look at it. Thanks!