Drie gezichten op Hamburg, afgebeeld het museum- en schoolgebouw van de Steinthor, het natuurhistorisch museum en de Steindamm 1894

Wilhelm Dreesen captured these three views of Hamburg, likely through photography reproduced as prints, showcasing key institutions and urban spaces. This composite image invites us to consider the role of institutions in shaping civic identity. We see the imposing architecture of the school and museum building of the Steinthor, the Natural History Museum, and the bustling Steindamm street. Made in Germany, it reflects the late 19th and early 20th century's emphasis on education, scientific progress, and urban development. Germany at this time was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Institutions like those depicted were seen as crucial for cultivating an informed citizenry and projecting an image of modernity and progress. Dreesen's composition may be a reflection of civic pride but, as historians, we might ask if it also masks underlying social inequalities or tensions inherent in this period of transformation. By exploring archives, architectural plans, and period documents, we can better understand the complex social and institutional forces that shaped Hamburg and were captured in Dreesen’s images.