Façade van het Pellerhaus in Neurenberg 1895

This is Ferdinand Schmidt’s photograph of the Façade van het Pellerhaus in Nuremberg. Schmidt, who lived from 1840 to 1909, captured this image during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization in Germany. The Pellerhaus, a prime example of Renaissance architecture, stood as a symbol of Nuremberg's rich cultural heritage. Schmidt’s choice to photograph this building reflects an interest in preserving historical memory amidst modernization. The photograph serves as a historical record, freezing a moment in time and offering a glimpse into the architectural and cultural landscape of the era. Consider the absence of people. The emptiness of the square evokes a sense of solitude. What does it mean to capture the façade of a building, its surface, without the people who inhabit it? This absence encourages contemplation on the relationship between architecture, history, and human experience. It prompts us to consider what is preserved and what is lost in the act of documentation.