Kasteel met een rivier op de achtergrond, Duitsland [?] c. 1913 - 1940

This is a photograph, made by Adalbert Defner, picturing a German castle perched above a river. Defner has used a photographic process to create this artwork. Photography, a relatively new medium at the time, allowed for the mass production of images and a wider dissemination of visual information. Consider the labor involved in the production of photography: from the manufacturing of cameras and film, to the skilled work of the photographer, and the industrial processes of developing and printing. The sepia tone of the photograph adds to its sense of historical distance, while the composition of the image, with its focus on the castle and the river, evokes a sense of romanticism. The photograph's materiality, its physical presence as a printed object, influences how we perceive and interpret the scene. By focusing on the materials and processes of photography, we gain a deeper appreciation for the photograph's significance. It is a testament to human ingenuity and a reflection of the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.