Gezicht op vermoedelijk het Square des Places in Fribourg met een standbeeld van Petrus Canisius 1897

This photograph, presumably taken in Fribourg by Ernest Lorson, presents a view of what is likely the Square des Places, featuring a statue of Petrus Canisius. The photographic process itself, involving a delicate dance of light, chemistry, and paper, mirrors the subject it captures: a public square, a space intended for social interaction and civic pride. The monochrome palette emphasizes the textures of the built environment, the stone of the buildings, and the solidity of Canisius’s monument, likely crafted through laborious carving. Photography democratized image-making, yet it also aestheticized social and cultural landscapes. The photograph makes you consider the labor involved in constructing both the physical space of the square, and the image itself, reminding us that all forms of making are deeply intertwined with social and cultural significance.