Casino of de speelzaal van het kuurhotel, Wiesbaden 1868 - 1890

Editor: This stereoscopic print, "Casino of de speelzaal van het kuurhotel, Wiesbaden," probably created between 1868 and 1890 by Philipp Remelé, gives an oddly intimate view into what seems like an empty casino. All that fine woodworking on the chairs and tables makes me wonder... What can you tell me about how the physical realities of creating this scene might shape our understanding of it? Curator: That’s an excellent entry point. Consider the labor involved. Photographing the Wiesbaden casino during this period involved a team: from those mining materials for photographic plates, to crafting furniture and constructing the space, each contributing to the casino's performative allure. Editor: So it's not just about the artist? Curator: Precisely. Look at the chairs – the product of joiners and upholsterers. Were these objects commissioned specifically for the space, embodying wealth and social status that the Casino wished to project, or simply selected by its patrons? Who benefited most from this spectacle of labour? And the chandeliers, were these locally produced, indicating robust regional industry, or were these imports, symbolizing international ties? Editor: I see, it brings in a different perspective to think about the sources. Thinking about who all labored here really brings this once lively space back to life! Curator: Yes! By considering the process, from photographic plate to printed card, from carpenter's workshop to grand chandelier, we understand this image as a material record of an entire system of production and consumption, making visible the unseen labour underwriting the leisure depicted. Editor: This approach really makes me consider what usually remains unsaid about the social context in addition to just what I can plainly see in the photograph itself! Thank you!