[Building with round-topped windows in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Editor: This striking photo, "Building with round-topped windows in Lübeck," attributed to Laurence Feininger, presents such a stark, almost ghostly image of historical architecture. What social commentaries or historical contexts might be embedded within this choice of subject and stark presentation? Curator: It's essential to consider Lubeck's history as a powerful Hanseatic city. How might its architectural representation here, devoid of people, reflect on power, trade, and perhaps even social stratification within that historical context? Consider its inverted presentation and what that could signal. Editor: It feels like it asks us to rethink our relationship with historical power structures. Curator: Exactly. Photography, especially in its early days, can be seen as a tool for documenting and reinforcing dominant narratives. How does this piece challenge that? Editor: It's a powerful reminder to question the stories that buildings tell, and who gets to tell them. Curator: Precisely, it invites us to critically examine our architectural inheritance.