Shattenspiel (Shadow play) 1928

Editor: Here we have Franz Weiser's "Shattenspiel (Shadow play)," a gelatin silver print from 1928. I'm struck by how the stark shadows on the street create an almost surreal, playful scene, contrasting with the gritty realism of the urban landscape. What catches your eye in this photograph? Curator: The photograph operates as a historical artifact, doesn't it? The Modernist interest in light and shadow plays against the socio-political realities of the time. I see in this work not just a playful scene but a quiet commentary on visibility and invisibility, perhaps mirroring the individual's place within the burgeoning urban landscape. Editor: Invisibility? Could you explain? Curator: The shadow becomes the main subject, obscuring the person who casts it. Consider this within the context of Weimar Germany. Who is seen, who is heard, and whose experiences are relegated to the shadows? Is the figure even "there"? The title translates to "Shadow play" which can imply deceptive appearances that hide underlying political anxieties. Editor: That makes me rethink the "playfulness" I initially perceived. It feels more like a fragmented reality. What do you make of the high contrast? Curator: The high contrast intensifies this dichotomy, underscoring the stark divisions within society at that time. It speaks to power structures. Think of Bertolt Brecht's use of stark staging to prevent audience identification and foster critical thinking. Does this work echo the aesthetics of Neue Sachlichkeit, "New Objectivity", reflecting the disillusionment following World War I? Editor: It does have that stark realism. I hadn’t considered the historical and political angles. This image definitely encourages a deeper reading! Curator: Exactly. By viewing it through that lens, we unlock another dimension. Thinking about the shadows in that way, it brings out different levels of expression that speak of individual experience and cultural phenomena.