Historical Riga City Landscape Photograph

This image is a historical photograph of Riga, Latvia, specifically showing the intersection of Maskavas (Moscow) and Turgeņeva streets at the beginning of the 20th century. The scene captures the transition of urban transportation, featuring horse-drawn carriages alongside narrow-gauge tram tracks on cobblestone streets. In the background, the distinctive dome of the Riga Choral Synagogue is visible before its destruction in 1941.

The watermark 'VITRE' refers to the Digital Archive of the Latvian Museum of Photography (Latvijas Fotogrāfijas muzejs), which preserves large collections of glass plate negatives and historical prints documenting Latvian life. These images serve as vital historical records of the Baltic region's architectural and social evolution.

While the physical prints or digital rights are managed by the Latvian Museum of Photography, the ultimate ownership of this cultural heritage material falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. The museum serves as the primary custodian, ensuring the preservation of work by pioneer photographers such as those from the 'Vitre' collection for future generations.