[Street scene in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Curator: This is "Street scene in Lübeck," a photograph attributed to Laurence Feininger. It is a small work, just a few centimeters in both dimensions. Editor: The inverted tones create a strangely ethereal mood. The high contrast really emphasizes the architectural lines. Curator: Indeed. Note how Feininger uses the stark contrast to emphasize the geometric forms of the buildings. The repetition of windows and rooflines creates a rhythmic pattern. Editor: And those figures walking down the street—ghostly apparitions. I wonder about the social dynamics at play here. Were they marginalized, or simply anonymous in the urban landscape? The title "Rialto" appears above a shop front. Does this imply an artistic or social connection to Venice? Curator: It certainly invites speculation about the cultural context and perhaps Feininger's own interpretation of European city life. The photographic negative gives us a unique structural perspective. Editor: A ghostly image, perhaps a reflection of the artist's own feelings on belonging and identity? Curator: A compelling reading, and a testament to the photograph's ability to evoke complex emotions through its formal elements. Editor: Yes, the formal aspects certainly lend themselves to many interpretations.