Balkon van het Goldenes Dachl-huis in Innsbruck before 1899

Fritz Gratl captured this image of the Goldenes Dachl house in Innsbruck, Austria using a photographic process in 1899. The building is a late Gothic oriel, a type of projecting window, which was erected in 1500, on the occasion of Emperor Maximilian I’s marriage. The photograph, like the balcony itself, embodies a particular claim about the social role of architecture in Innsbruck. In the late 19th-century, photography and architecture were intertwined. The use of historic architectural landmarks can be seen as a form of civic promotion and a statement of cultural pride. Such images are often viewed as promoting a conservative view of heritage. However, we might also see this image as part of a wider artistic and intellectual effort to conserve national monuments and preserve Austrian history. The interpretation of art relies on understanding the context and institutional forces that shape the production and reception of art. Historical societies, photographic archives, and studies of Austrian history could all provide more information about how the image communicates meaning.