Monument van Maria Christina van Oostenrijk in de Augustinerkirche te Wenen c. 1875 - 1900

This photograph by M. Frankenstein & Co. depicts a marble monument dedicated to Maria Christina of Austria, located in the Augustinerkirche in Vienna. The sheer scale of the monument, the sharp angles, and the material choice of marble all suggest power and permanence. Marble, of course, has been used for millennia to commemorate the rich and powerful. It requires immense physical labor to extract from quarries, and more skill to carve into sculptural form. The sharp lines and smooth surfaces of the monument reveal the hand of a master craftsman, while the figures have a classical grace. The winged figure reclining on the left looks rather like a neoclassical sculpture. Seen from a distance in this photograph, all these artistic choices combine to produce a powerful and lasting impression, yet we may also consider the labor, economics and politics that have helped produce this imposing structure. This is a reminder that even the most seemingly timeless works of art are products of their time, shaped by the hands of skilled workers, and fueled by complex social forces.