Gezicht op de Holstentor te Lübeck c. 1860 - 1885

This stereoscopic photograph of the Holstentor in Lübeck was produced by the Nederlandsche Stereoscoop Maatschappij in Amsterdam. The Holstentor, a medieval city gate, stands as a potent symbol of Lübeck's history as a prominent trading hub in the Hanseatic League. The choice to capture it in a stereoscopic format speaks to the cultural fascination with realism and documentation during the late 19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization. Photography, particularly through the novelty of stereoscopy, offered a way to preserve and disseminate images of historical landmarks and cultural symbols. In doing so, the Nederlandsche Stereoscoop Maatschappij shaped the perception and collective memory of places like Lübeck, turning them into commodities for consumption. To fully understand this image, one might explore the archives of the Nederlandsche Stereoscoop Maatschappij, historical records of Lübeck, and writings on the history of photography and visual culture.