Gezicht op Essex Street en Washington Street in Salem 1879

Editor: Here we have "Gezicht op Essex Street en Washington Street in Salem," a photographic print from 1879. The composition feels a little ghostly, perhaps because the streets are empty, but the buildings are lovely. What strikes you most about these cityscape photographs? Curator: Oh, a glimpse into a quieter time, wouldn't you agree? To me, these albumen prints whisper stories of a world transitioning, capturing a moment before the hustle truly consumed the street. There's something about the starkness, the stillness, that invites reflection. It’s not just documenting Salem, but a feeling, an echo of history itself, before the frame even found it, a premonition in the everyday. I find myself wondering, what did the photographer hope to convey with such deliberate emptiness? Editor: That's a fascinating question! It definitely makes me reconsider my initial impression. Was this emptiness typical of photography at the time? Curator: Absolutely. Early photography demanded long exposures. Capturing moving figures on a bustling street simply wasn't feasible. What appears as "emptiness" to us was very often the result of technical constraint. Think of the unseen: the ghosts in the image could easily be every passerby who couldn't stand still long enough to leave a mark. Editor: I hadn't considered that! It’s like a technological filter on reality. It gives so much meaning and context. Curator: Precisely! That's what makes it beautiful for me - in art or the everyday - when what's unseen starts to leave the best impression on us. What are you going to call "beautiful" on the walk home, do you suppose? Editor: Well, I will certainly try and pause to see all that is in between the hustle of people walking! Thanks!