Urban Photography in the Context of Modernity. The Case of Roberts Johansons’ Archive

The creation of photography in the 19th century coincides with a period which, in European history, is marked by the concept of modernization. This includes the gradual transition from a traditional agrarian society to an industrial society dominated by urban lifestyles. The fundamental impression of photography on the perception of reality, with far-reaching consequences in science, arts, and human thinking in general, makes it a vivid stamp of this era. Since the 19th century, it has also been widely used in social life research. In the work of historians, ethnographers, and anthropologists, photographs as a historical source are equally important as written statements such as documents, letters, diaries, memos, and press publications. However, a photographic image is still considered to be too subjective and therefore a marginal source. The article highlights the understanding of the interlinked and time-specific concepts of modernization and modernity, highlighting the role of photography in documenting the image of the city and the development of the urban environment as one of the most visible aspects of the era. The urban photograph, which includes both the objectively documented and the subjective view, defined in a historical context, leads to a more complete ref lection of the city’s image. The article examines the case study of the archive of Riga buildings and photographs of the urban environment produced by Roberts Johansons in the context of the chosen theoretical frame.