Gezicht op Altenstein c. 1870 - 1890

This sepia toned photograph shows a distant view of Altenstein in Germany, and was captured by C. Remde. The image invites us to consider the shifting dynamics between rural and industrial life. The small village nestled in the valley floor with its architecture feels quaint, but the tall chimneys of the factory mark it with the onward march of industrialization. The factory’s presence impacts the surrounding landscape. The sepia tone lends a nostalgic quality, evoking a sense of a bygone era, just as these communities were transforming. Photographs like these were often used to promote tourism, but they also capture the changes to the social structure and environment of such places. It also reminds us that in order for there to be progress, there is often something that must be given up in return.