Waterval nabij Trollhättan 1872 - 1876

Robert Dahllöf made this photograph of Waterval near Trollhättan, Sweden, sometime in the late 19th century. The waterfall is the main focus, but looming over it is a building, indicating the way human interventions are beginning to encroach on even the most apparently untouched natural landscapes. Sweden in this period was undergoing rapid industrialization, and the harnessing of natural resources like waterfalls became a key part of that process. So, while the image presents itself as a neutral record, it hints at broader social and economic shifts. We might consider this image alongside other visual representations of Sweden at the time, looking for how the changing landscape was perceived and depicted. By consulting historical archives, economic reports, and visual culture, we can begin to understand the complex interplay between industrial progress and the representation of nature in 19th-century Sweden.