Houten huizen bij de Grundlsee, Oostenrijk 1862 - 1880

This stereoscopic card shows wooden houses near the Grundlsee in Austria, made by an anonymous artist. The photograph is printed on a card and is meant to be viewed with a stereoscope, a device that creates a three-dimensional effect. The use of photography as a means of documentation and dissemination speaks to the rise of industrial processes in the 19th century. The ability to mass-produce images democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience. The photograph captures a landscape, but it also represents a shift in how we perceive and consume images. The card itself, with its standardized format and mass-produced quality, reflects the industrialization of art and culture. Consider the labor involved in producing the photograph. From the photographer capturing the image to the workers printing and assembling the cards, this artwork is a product of collective effort. This challenges the traditional notion of the artist as a solitary genius, instead highlighting the social and economic context of artistic production.