Gezicht op het oude stadhuis van Colmar before 1894

Editor: So this is "Gezicht op het oude stadhuis van Colmar," a photograph by Charles Bernhoeft, taken sometime before 1894. It’s a captivating cityscape. The textures seem really interesting, almost like looking at a charcoal drawing. What captures your attention about this work? Curator: It's the layering of process. This photograph isn't just a capture of a scene. Consider the labour involved. Sourcing materials, the production of photographic plates, the construction of the city itself—stone upon stone, tile upon tile, manufactured then assembled. How the architecture dictated a certain class stratification is also crucial; who had access to what spaces within this cityscape? The cobblestone streets, they represent a significant investment of labor. What statement was being made when it was taken? Editor: So you’re looking beyond just the pretty picture to the societal influences shaping the city. Curator: Exactly! Look at the clothing of the figures – a product of textile manufacturing, reflecting the period's industry. Even the photographic print itself - a commodity to be consumed. This photo acted as a souvenir for purchase, evidence of participation within an expanding industrial landscape. Do you think the photograph attempts to soften these elements through its composition or stark, monochrome palette? Editor: Perhaps, yes. By framing it this way, the industrial aspects are not at the fore. Instead, the buildings, now old, convey a certain history or nostalgic element. It makes me question the choices, the photographer and even of us, viewing these buildings today. Curator: Precisely! It all reflects a chain of material actions and social forces shaping not only the built environment, but also how we choose to memorialize it. Editor: I'm starting to see how much more there is than just what's immediately visible in the image. Considering it all in terms of process gives me new questions and ways of looking at other pieces of art, too!