Gezicht op Broadway en Fifth Avenue, New York 1861 - 1871

Editor: Here we have an anonymous gelatin silver print from between 1861 and 1871, titled "Gezicht op Broadway en Fifth Avenue, New York"—it feels incredibly still, despite being a bustling cityscape. I'm struck by how formal the buildings seem. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image offers a fascinating glimpse into New York's urban development and societal values during a pivotal era. The stillness you sense probably arises from the long exposure times of early photography. It froze the city, but also presents a carefully constructed image of progress. The monumental buildings and the obelisk in the distance are no accident. Editor: Constructed? How so? Curator: Think about the purpose of photographic cityscapes at this time. This wasn't just documentation; it was promotion. Cities were competing for investment and immigration. This image promotes New York's modernity and stability, aligning it with established centers of power. What impression do you get from the seemingly empty streets? Editor: I hadn’t thought about that—now I notice how deliberately composed it is. The relative emptiness of the streets makes the architecture even grander and suggests order, rather than chaos. Maybe I was wrong about the "stillness." Curator: Precisely. Also, consider the distribution networks. A photo like this might be presented as a stereograph for middle-class parlor viewing. What does it mean to domesticate and consume the image of the city like this? Editor: So, it's not just a picture of a place, but an artifact meant to shape how people understand and engage with the urban environment...a political act in its own way? Curator: Absolutely. It tells us as much about the aspirations of the city as it does about its actual appearance. And reminds us that the public role of art is ever-present, isn't it? Editor: I never considered how much early photography could reveal about social and political ambition. Thanks, this was very insightful!