Treseburg in de Harz, vanuit de lucht gezien 1855 - 1885

This aerial view of Treseburg in the Harz region was created by Adolph Hecht, a photographer in Magdeburg. The image offers a rare perspective of a small village nestled within a landscape. Consider the historical context: As photography developed in the 19th century, it provided new ways of seeing and documenting the world. This view from above transforms the familiar into something abstract, almost diagrammatic. Look at how the layout of the town reflects the community's relationship to the surrounding environment, both shaped by and shaping the landscape. What does this perspective evoke? There is an emotional tension between the desire to map and control space with the vulnerability of a community exposed. It invites us to consider our relationship with the places we inhabit. Photographs like this one offer insights into the cultural and technological shifts of the time and continue to shape our understanding of place and identity.