Stephansdom in Wenen 1871 - 1877

Curator: Welcome. Before us, we have Oscar Kramer’s stereo albumen print of "Stephansdom in Wien," captured between 1871 and 1877. Editor: The image is immediately striking! It's quite imposing, that cathedral. The verticality is emphasized, a sharp contrast with the horizontal format, creating a dramatic tension. The texture in the photograph is incredible. Curator: Kramer’s work is interesting in its historical context. Stereo photography offered a seemingly objective and accessible means of experiencing places far away, thus broadening horizons for folks. Simultaneously, it reinforced the era’s colonial gaze, positioning Vienna, with its magnificent cathedral, as a key hub of cultural power. Editor: Yes, but it also brings our eye straight to those soaring architectural details. Notice how the light etches every pinnacle and window. The symmetrical composition—mirrored, but with slight variations—draws attention to both the unified structure and the individual elements that contribute to the whole. It nearly vibrates with detail. Curator: Indeed. Consider too, the very public accessibility Kramer was offering at a time of both immense social change and cultural consolidation for the Habsburgs. Tourism and visual consumption reinforced existing socio-economic structures and hierarchies. The emerging middle class saw this Cathedral in their home through photography which solidified the visual power of the church and Vienna as an elite location. Editor: It also makes you wonder what processes were involved and how he sought the lighting or exposure in this photo. Curator: The albumen printing process was very new during that time, which gave folks affordable access to this cathedral from the comfort of their own home. Editor: Overall, it’s more than a visual document; it’s an immersive spatial experience condensed into a single frame, albeit a duplicated one! Curator: Seeing it like this is also valuable in thinking about visual representation and who has controlled it through time. Editor: That said, the aesthetic is superb. I may revisit this one.