Exterieur van het Stadhuis van Keulen c. 1860 - 1870

Curator: Anselm Schmitz’s photograph, "Exterieur van het Stadhuis van Keulen," taken somewhere between 1860 and 1870, showcases the Cologne City Hall in Germany. It's a gelatin silver print, capturing a detailed cityscape in the romanticism style. Editor: It's a grand building! The tower particularly has a very gothic feel; its design stands in such striking contrast to the stark plainness of the buildings nearby. Makes the tower seem almost comically out of place. Like some fairytale castle has been plonked right in the middle of a business district. Curator: That juxtaposition is interesting, isn't it? Romanticism in art often featured such architectural contrasts. This photo was created during a period of significant urban and political change in Cologne, the old city council, a statement of civic pride amidst rapid industrialization. Photography in this period, whilst having some claim to capturing the 'real', very often had an aesthetic agenda that leaned heavily on familiar and idealized compositions. Editor: Idealized certainly! You see practically no people, it's as if everyone vanished the moment before the picture was taken. Almost eerie. Gives it the air of being staged for an audience that does not exist, that’s still to come... maybe now, us, looking at it a hundred and fifty years later. Curator: It speaks to how the city presented itself, or perhaps how it wished to be seen. The photograph may also reflect the growing sense of civic identity among the citizens of Cologne, especially given the historical context. It shows their pride in their buildings in a time where, after the industrial revolution, most buildings became focused more on functionality than visual flair. Editor: So the image becomes, unintentionally, an act of defiance! The old and fancy resisting the stark uniformity that industry seemed so determined to bring. Even though the city would grow around this scene anyway. Curator: Precisely! It is more than just a photograph; it is a moment of the past frozen and framed, reflecting complex narratives. Editor: Hmm...defiance captured on a rectangular bit of photographic paper. Amazing. Well, next stop? Curator: Onwards, yes. Let's proceed to the gallery featuring landscapes of the Hudson River School.