Gezicht op gebouwen bij het strand van Saint-Malo 1896

Editor: Here we have "View of Buildings near the Beach of Saint-Malo," a photogram from 1896. What strikes me is the contrast between the architectural rigidity of the buildings and the vast, undefined space of the sky. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This image, situated within Pictorialism, provides a critical lens to view societal power structures of the late 19th century. The stark architectural elements serve as reminders of human constructs imposed upon the natural landscape. Editor: So, you're suggesting it's a commentary on power? Curator: In a way, yes. Consider the way the city seems fortified, almost guarded. It brings into question who these fortifications were built to protect, and conversely, who they were built to exclude. Whose perspectives and experiences are prioritised here? Editor: I see what you mean. The walls seem to divide the privileged space within from the open, more vulnerable space outside. The beach almost looks like it is ‘left outside’. Curator: Exactly! It's this dynamic that raises questions about accessibility, class divisions and social inequalities present in the rapidly urbanising society of that era. Notice also the almost ethereal quality given to the image. Editor: It almost feels dreamlike... What impact would that have? Curator: It might be attempting to question the perceived reality, showing instead a more nuanced depiction of class and accessibility, a photographic allegory that comments on society's constructs and its impacts on individual liberty. Editor: I never considered it in terms of social commentary, it enriches my perspective. Curator: By analysing through an intersectional approach, we can really bring to life, how even seemingly objective pieces can reveal historical perspectives of political and societal tension.