Exterieur van Café de la Bourse te Brussel 1875

Editor: This albumen print, "Exterieur van Café de la Bourse te Brussel," by Alexandre de Blochouse, dated 1875, feels so incredibly still. It's like stepping back in time. What kind of context surrounds this architectural photography? Curator: Indeed. This photograph comes at a crucial moment for Brussels. Consider the title's reference to "nouveaux boulevards". This image isn’t just of a café, it documents the reshaping of Brussels. Think about the socio-political implications: Whose city is this? Who benefits from these new boulevards and buildings? And whose history gets represented in the images we preserve? Editor: So it's less about the café itself, and more about what its presence, its image, says about the city’s evolution. But photography feels like such a neutral, objective medium. Curator: Exactly! That’s where the politics of imagery come into play. Early photography, while appearing objective, was often used to promote certain narratives about progress, modernity and even colonial power. Who commissioned this photo? What was its intended audience? These are the questions that help unpack its deeper meaning. The cafe, with its location on the newly minted boulevards is emblematic of the wealth of private interest. Editor: That makes me rethink how I approach photography. What felt like simple documentation is actually a curated view. It’s almost like propaganda of urban success? Curator: Precisely! It reveals how cities sell themselves. And also remember what is included and omitted from such imagery. Consider what’s missing from the image: the people impacted by this progress, the potential displacement or erased histories of what previously stood on those boulevards. Editor: This gives me so much to think about when I look at these old photographs. It isn't enough to see the beauty of the architecture; I must investigate the historical forces shaping the narrative. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Every photograph carries echoes of power dynamics within it. Examining those connections brings these images into clearer focus.