Toegangsportaal van Stadtpalais Liechtenstein te Wenen before 1894

This image captures the entrance portal of the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein in Vienna, though the artist is anonymous. The photograph allows us a glimpse into the world of Viennese aristocracy, a world of power and privilege. Consider how this architecture embodies social hierarchies. The grand scale, the imposing columns, and the ornate sculptures are not merely decorative; they are declarations of status and authority. Who was allowed to pass through these doors, and who was kept outside? What did it mean to be welcomed into such a space? What did it mean to be excluded? Architectural photography can be understood as a performance of power, highlighting the cultural norms and power structures that architecture embodies. The photograph invites us to reflect on the ongoing dialogue between art, power, and identity.