Gezicht op de Cholerabrunnen in Dresden 1886

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, titled "Gezicht op de Cholerabrunnen in Dresden" from 1886, is attributed to Stengel & Markert. The name translates to “View of the Cholera Fountain in Dresden." It strikes me as so stark, a formal almost grim city portrait centered by that elaborate gothic fountain. What am I missing? What’s the story behind it? Curator: Oh, my dear, you're already picking up on so much! It's somber, yes, and intentionally so. Think of the context: this "Cholera Fountain" wasn't just a pretty centerpiece; it was a constant reminder of the deadly outbreaks that plagued 19th-century cities. Stengel & Markert are masters of quiet commentary. They show a slice of realism, where the practical need to face death collides with the civic need for grand architecture, or maybe some civic effort at control, order... Editor: Control? So, in a way, this imposing gothic structure stands as a kind of… warning? Curator: Exactly! Imagine, the residents see it daily. Does it offer reassurance through beauty? Or constant dread? It also showcases the way technological advances like photography attempted to make sense of an overwhelming crisis – an attempt at order. Editor: So the photographers captured the city trying to project a sense of order amidst chaos. I guess that duality really resonates, especially today! Curator: Indeed. It's funny, isn't it, how art from so long ago can whisper to us about our current condition. Thanks for taking a walk and thinking out loud with me.