Opstelling van zilverwerk te München 1876

This is Johann Baptist Obernetter's photograph, 'Opstelling van zilverwerk te München' taken in 1876 at the German exhibition in Munich. Obernetter's photograph captures a display of silverware, reflecting the opulence and industrial progress of the late 19th century. These objects signify more than just wealth; they embody the social and economic structures of the time. Silverware, often associated with bourgeois domesticity, speaks volumes about class distinctions and the rituals of display and consumption. Consider the labor involved in crafting and maintaining these items. The image prompts us to consider the absence of the hands that shaped them, and the social hierarchies that positioned such artistry as symbols of status. As we gaze upon this image, we are invited to reflect on our own relationship with material culture and its power to define identity and social standing. This photograph invites us to consider what it means to live in a culture of display.