Börse Berlin 1878 - 1900

This albumen print of the Börse in Berlin, probably made in the 1870s by Johann Friedrich Stiehm, represents not just a building but a set of social relations. The material itself—a coated paper sensitive to light—was crucial to how Stiehm made the image. The stereoscopic format, with two nearly identical images side by side, creates a three-dimensional effect when viewed through a special device. The photograph's sepia tone, the effect of the chemicals used in its production, lends a sense of history and nostalgia. The image captures the Börse, or stock exchange, a site central to capitalist exchange. The very act of photographing the building, reproducing it for mass consumption, reflects the growing importance of finance in everyday life. The boats in the foreground hint at the flow of goods and capital, essential to the Börse's function. Stiehm’s photograph is a material artifact of its time, connecting art, commerce, and the burgeoning culture of photography.