Palais im Großen Garten in Dresden 1889 - 1930

Here's a photograph of the Palais im Großen Garten in Dresden, whose author is anonymous. Looking at this, I wonder what was in the photographer’s mind? What did they want to show us? There’s a palace, and it looks impressive, but it's also kind of still. I feel like I’m looking at history, but also something solid and stable, something that’s not going anywhere. I see a stillness, like they waited for the perfect moment to catch it. The tones are muted; the light is gentle, not too sharp. It makes me feel peaceful, like everything is in its place. It also makes me think of other artists, like Canaletto, who painted buildings in a way that makes you feel like you're right there, seeing the world as it is. But the anonymous photographer is having a conversation with Canaletto, with history, with how we see. It is a moment of looking, feeling, and freezing time. It makes me appreciate the simple act of seeing and remembering.