Façade van het Ayuntamiento van Sevilla aan het Plaza de San Francisco 1890 - 1930

Rafael Garzón captured the façade of the Ayuntamiento of Sevilla on film. This photograph freezes a moment in time, reflecting the rigid class structures of late 19th century Spain. Garzón, working in Granada, documented the architectural grandeur of Seville, but also inadvertently captured the social hierarchy inherent in the urban landscape. Horse-drawn carriages line up outside the city hall, emblems of wealth and status, while the figures of laborers and commoners are notably absent from the frame, or stand as servants by the carriages. The building itself, a symbol of civic power, looms large, emphasizing the distance between the governing body and the everyday lives of many. The emotional weight of this image lies in its quiet revelation of inequality, a stark reminder of the lived experiences shaped by class distinctions in Spain. This photograph serves as both historical document and a subtle commentary on the socio-economic realities of its time.