Gezicht op Granville en de haven 1896 - 1898

Curator: Welcome. This gelatin silver print, titled "Gezicht op Granville en de haven", presents a panoramic vista of Granville's harbor, captured between 1896 and 1898. We have this displayed in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, it feels… peaceful? The muted tones and wide perspective sort of hush everything. You can almost smell the sea air, you know? Old-timey, but lovely. Curator: The artist has chosen a composition that allows us to consider themes around labor, commerce, and also military infrastructure given the buildings in the background. The boats are clearly central to the economic life of this town. What can we say about this? Editor: It reminds me a bit of childhood. Old photographs. It’s like stepping into my grandparents' attic. Everything feels sepia-toned. The rigging on the ships is like an elaborate web. Beautiful, but fragile somehow. I also think about the people on land and how they contribute to the labor and life that keep that city running, don't you? Curator: Indeed, looking at this harbor scene from that era encourages reflections on colonial expansion, industrial advancements, and societal class structures. The port city embodies movement—of people, commodities, power dynamics. Editor: Definitely see what you're getting at! Curator: Even seemingly neutral landscapes encode various positions that continue to affect the world. Editor: It's funny, initially I saw serenity and now it’s making me consider colonialism! I like that tension though, in the image. Curator: So it provides opportunities for meaningful engagement on how photography is about so much more than aesthetics. Editor: Thanks, I appreciate your context.