Gezicht op de Pawtucket Boulevard te Lowell before 1892

This silver gelatin print, titled "Gezicht op de Pawtucket Boulevard te Lowell," presents a muted scene of a boulevard, capturing a moment in time and space by an anonymous artist. Created during an era marked by significant industrial and urban expansion, this image reflects early urban planning. Yet, it’s the road itself that really speaks to me. Wide open, ready for transport, ready for movement. Look at the ways in which gender and class shape access to this space. How might the experience of this boulevard differ for a wealthy family in a carriage versus a working-class pedestrian? The boulevard, seemingly open to all, is subtly divided by socio-economic realities. The image invites us to reflect on how societal structures shape our access to and experiences within urban spaces. It encourages us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out in the visual narratives of our built environment.