Gezicht op het stadhuis van Hattem 1890

This photograph captures the facade of the Stadhuis van Hattem, made by an anonymous photographer. It is a formal portrait of civic architecture. In the context of Dutch history, city halls like this one are important symbols of local governance and community identity. They served not only as administrative centers, but as physical manifestations of civic pride. The photograph is striking in its simplicity. The careful composition frames the building to highlight its architectural details. In the foreground are two figures standing in the doorway, their presence indicating scale. The lack of contextual information focuses attention solely on the architecture. It asks us to consider the relationship between the architecture, governance and the everyday lives of the citizens it represents. This image prompts us to reflect on how the built environment shapes our understanding of community, identity, and power.