Binnenplaats van het Paleis van de Prins-bisschoppen, Luik 1862 - 1894

Editor: So, here we have "Binnenplaats van het Paleis van de Prins-bisschoppen, Luik" – or "Courtyard of the Prince-Bishops' Palace, Liège," I suppose – a gelatin silver print, by Joseph Kirsch Fils, dating from somewhere between 1862 and 1894. It's giving me slightly gothic, almost austere vibes… so many windows. What strikes you about it? Curator: Well, it definitely has a gravity to it, doesn't it? The texture, achieved through that silver gelatin print, adds a tactile dimension. But for me, it’s not just gothic severity, it’s a kind of… stoic beauty. Imagine standing there. Do you think it would feel oppressive? Or empowering? I suspect it’s a little of both, like most places of power. I think the high vantage point emphasizes control over a domain, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I think you are right - the position and angle do make you aware of this power relation. All the lines seem to point back towards you and into the frame. I'm also interested in that lone figure in the courtyard – a tiny, anonymous person. Curator: Absolutely! Figures in these scenes always tweak something in me. We feel the contrast, I suspect. This majestic edifice reduced to a backdrop for the pedestrian; it’s quite poetic. Kirsch has a great eye! Editor: It really puts the architecture in perspective. The printmaking process must have been tricky at that time, right? Curator: Gelatin silver prints were really state-of-the-art then, although the process was picking up steam at this time.. It really is a durable method that has allowed his art to live on to this day. Do you find you look differently at historical photography after making your own prints? Editor: Definitely. It’s fascinating to think about the processes and the choices that the artist was thinking through. The limitations, too. Curator: Precisely! Seeing those choices helps reveal the spirit within the image, don't you think? I've loved the moment to contemplate, to share and reflect. Editor: Likewise! Now I'm feeling like grabbing my camera and going in search of my own austere vista!