Toegangsportaal van een woning aan Dorotheergasse 12 te Wenen before 1894

This photograph captures the entrance to a building on Dorotheergasse 12 in Vienna, its creator lost to history. The image offers a glimpse into the city’s architectural landscape, freezing a moment in time. Consider how urban spaces embody and enforce societal structures. The photograph reveals the material realities of class and power, visible in the design of the entrance, the architecture and even the stone work. It hints at the stories of those who passed through this portal – inhabitants, visitors, workers – and their diverse experiences within the city. The anonymity of the photographer further underscores the narrative. What does it mean when the hand that frames history remains unknown? This photograph is an invitation to reflect on the layers of identity and experience embedded in the built environment. It encourages us to consider whose stories are told, whose are erased, and whose perspectives shape our understanding of the past.