German Consulate Shanghai before 1908

Editor: This is "German Consulate Shanghai," a photo taken before 1908 by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts a street scene in front of the consulate. I’m struck by the stillness; despite the figures and carriages, there's a sense of quiet formality. What jumps out to you? Curator: The flags atop the buildings are quite interesting; they establish a sense of national identity within this space. Look at how the German flag mirrors, yet contrasts with, the imagined Chinese presence. What do those symbolic placements tell you about the power dynamics present in Shanghai at the turn of the century? Editor: I hadn't thought about the flags like that. I was more focused on the figure walking away from us in the foreground. Curator: Indeed. Notice the uniform; it's a symbol of authority and order, right? The turned back invites us to consider: Whose perspective are we adopting? Are we invited to imagine ourselves joining this figure, entering the frame? Is it perhaps the photographer, positioning himself outside the building? Editor: It almost feels like a staged photo now that you mention it. With everything so deliberately placed, there must have been significance in what was captured. Curator: Precisely. Images from this period were very intentional. They aimed to capture more than just the physical appearance of a place. This photo reflects the power, aspirations, and anxieties of a nation establishing its presence in a foreign land. Think of all the symbolic meanings and the visual composition! Editor: I see it now! The symbolism within the piece adds complexity to what at first seemed like just a simple photo of the building and those walking around the area. I will consider photography in the same light again. Curator: Yes, and hopefully we all understand the weight behind photos just a little bit more!