Gezicht op Kasteel Borgharen 1893

Curator: Looking at this photograph, I immediately sense a stillness, almost as if time itself is holding its breath. Editor: Indeed. Let me introduce the artwork. This gelatin-silver print is entitled "Gezicht op Kasteel Borgharen" – View of Borgharen Castle. It was taken in 1893 by Raphaël baron de Selys-Longchamps. As the title suggests, it is a direct capture of architecture and the landscape it inhabits. Curator: The formality is remarkable; the castle is framed centrally with strong symmetry. It seems both imposing and strangely welcoming despite its massive size. It's all meticulously balanced, down to the subtle tones. Editor: Selys-Longchamps’s use of pictorialism lends this work a certain romantic aura. This aesthetic approach to photography emphasized soft focus and tonal manipulation to mimic the look of paintings or etchings. It speaks volumes about the cultural and aesthetic values being projected onto representations of the landed gentry in that era. This estate is not simply being depicted; it’s being idealized. Curator: Yes, the atmospheric haze seems deliberate. I find the gelatin-silver print particularly significant, creating luminosity from within the print. The contrast between the brickwork of the lateral buildings and the soft light reflecting off the main castle produces a very rich optical texture, despite the very muted palette. Editor: That tonal quality further establishes a visual narrative about power, tradition and the socio-political establishment which continued to rely on landed wealth. Consider who got to own these buildings and to have them immortalized with aesthetic intention through photographic work. How the photographer positioned himself in society absolutely framed his artistic choices. Curator: I appreciate you providing historical context but also just aesthetically speaking the eye moves smoothly across its surface, led by those parallel lines in the courtyards leading up to the entrance. Editor: And what seems like a plain landscape photograph opens up to deeper investigation of cultural and economic currents as well. I will not pass up an opportunity to bring up representation! Curator: It is through careful structural evaluation paired with historical perspective that art truly engages. I’m leaving here contemplating the role that photography, even when intending to be aesthetically creative, plays in establishing a particular reality.