Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München 1868 - 1890

This is a stereoscopic photograph of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich, captured by Johann Friedrich Stiehm. Reflecting the aspirations of 19th-century European society, Stiehm's image offers a glimpse into the era's fascination with knowledge, progress, and the built environment. The library is a towering symbol of intellectual authority. The deliberate composition, with its symmetrical arrangement and long perspective, invites you to consider the social hierarchies embedded in access to education and information. Consider the role of institutions like the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in shaping cultural narratives and reinforcing or challenging existing power structures. In what ways might this image speak to contemporary concerns about inequality, access to knowledge, and the politics of representation? What might Stiehm make of how we consume images today?